Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe is hoping for good news on Kieran Trippier’s calf injury after the England defender picked up a knock late on in the 3-1 win over Everton. Trippier told the bench he needed to come off and pointed to his calf but it remains to be seen how much damage he has suffered. The right-back was able to conduct post-match interviews after the game so there is already one good sign emerging from the Toon camp. But when asked about his problem,
Eddie Howe said: “I think Kieran’s got a slight calf issue. He motioned that he needed to come off, so we’ll have to see how that is. It would be devastating to lose him in the form he’s in.”
United now face Aston Villa on Sunday with the Geordie fans in fine fettle. Another win against Villa would see them smash through the 20 point barrier after a season in the doldrums.
Eddie Howe added: “We’re seeing the togetherness. We’re in a relegation battle, and we need to stick together and fight for everything. It’s not going to be perfect football, it’s not going to be perfect games at this moment, but we’re in a position where we have to find a way to win, even if we’re not playing at our best. We have to stay in games and be competitive, and I thought we were tonight. We did a lot of the off-the-ball stuff really well, and I was really, really pleased with the commitment.”
