Newcastle United star reveals freak training ground injury - out until Christmas
Kieran Trippier’s injury has left Newcastle United light at full-back.
Newcastle United right-back Kieran Trippier says he’ll ‘back soon’ from his ‘unfortunate’ hamstring injury.
Trippier picked up the injury in training on the eve of the Magpies’ 2-1 win over Manchester City at St James’ Park on November 22.
The 35-year-old was practising a set piece when he felt the problem, which has ruled him out of the last five matches.
Kieran Trippier provides update on his Newcastle United injury
The Magpies enter a busy week where they travel to Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League on Wednesday before facing Sunderland in the first Premier League Tyne-Wear derby since 2016.
Trippier won’t be available for either game but is pushing hard to return at the earliest opportunity.
“My recovery from injury is going well,” Trippier told the matchday programme ahead of Saturday’s 2-1 win against Burnley. “It was an unfortunate one, I was in training taking a set piece and there’s nothing you can do - it’s out of my control. All I can do is focus on getting fit as quickly as possible, but respectfully in the right way.
“These things happen and I’ve been in this position before. I’m old enough to understand and be professional in the way I handle my rehab and I’ll be back soon.
“Of course, I miss playing, but the most important thing for me is focusing on myself and my rehab with the physios to get back fit as quickly as possible to help the team for the rest of the season.”
Newcastle United set to remain light at full-back until Xmas period
Newcastle remain light at full-back as they enter a relentless period of fixtures.
The Magpies have recently welcomed back Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall from injury, but their returns have coincided with the loss of Trippier and Emil Krafth.
Livramento has started every game since returning from his six-week knee injury, while Dan Burn was moved out to left-back against Burnley on Saturday to give Hall, who been suffering from illness this week, a rest.
Howe expects Trippier and Krafth to remain sidelined until the Christmas period.
Howe said: “Yeah, Tino's okay I think, he's done really well. Tough for him because he's straight back in and playing a lot of minutes but we don't have any other options in that position currently with Emil and Kieran out and I think they won't be back any time soon, in a sense the next few games anyway.
“We hope to get them back towards the Christmas period. It would be nice if we could because it would alleviate some of the burden on Tino but he's shouldering it really well as is Lewis and hopefully that can stay the case.”