‘Touch wood’ - Kieran Trippier latest as Eddie Howe provides Newcastle United fitness update

Eddie Howe has revealed why Kieran Trippier did not play the full 90 minutes against Brentford.

The Newcastle United and England star required treatment from the physio whilst Jacob Murphy celebrated his first goal of the campaign.

Trippier was OK to continue but was taken off seven minutes before full-time with Matt Targett coming on at right-back.

Asked about the 32-year-old’s withdrawal, the Magpies head coach said: “He just had a bit of fatigue, I think.

“He’s come back from England duty, where he didn’t play, and that two weeks can sometimes just knock a player’s normal routine and schedule.

“Touch wood, there’s no injury with him, but we’re just trying to look after him really and get him through these games.”

Howe kept faith with the starting XI that defeated Fulham 4-1 last weekend, meaning the returning Allan Saint-Maximin could only settle for a place on the bench.

Joelinton, who has been nursing a knee injury, also didn’t start with Sean Longstaff, Joe Willock and Bruno Guimaraes forming the three-man midfield.

“Previous weeks we have suffered as we didn’t have the strength because of injuries,” Howe said.

“But today with players back, it looks a totally different squad and I was able to protect a few.

“Maxi is only just back with us training and entering the first stages of his recovery and we didn’t have to start him.

“Joelinton, we were able to give him another week for his knee.

“They were huge positives as we head into that three-game week.”

A brace from Guimaraes, plus goals from Murphy and Miguel Almiron and an own goal from Ethan Pinnock saw United claim a 5-1 win versus Brentford.