(Reuters) – Newcastle United right back Kieran Trippier will be sidelined for the next two matches due to a minor injury, and he is likely to miss England’s upcoming friendlies, according to manager Eddie Howe on Friday.
The 33-year-old, who has 46 caps for his country, sustained the injury during Newcastle’s 3-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend.
Newcastle is set to face 11th-placed Chelsea in the Premier League on Monday, followed by an FA Cup quarter-final clash against Manchester City on March 16. England, on the other hand, will host Brazil and Belgium at Wembley on March 23 and 26, respectively.
“Kieran’s injury is not severe, it’s a minor one,” Howe informed the press. “The scans indicated that he will likely miss the next two games, and we hope he will be fit for the first game after the international break, although there are no guarantees.”
“Despite the injury, there is a possibility that he will join the team for both matches; he is eager to stay with the group, which showcases his leadership qualities,” Howe added. “To my knowledge, he will not be joining up with England.”
Howe expressed confidence in 21-year-old Tino Livramento to fill in for Trippier during his absence. Livramento joined Newcastle from Southampton last August.
“Tino has had a fantastic start to his time at Newcastle, handling himself admirably and performing excellently,” Howe praised. “His athleticism is outstanding, as demonstrated by his goal against Wolves, highlighting his speed and technical skills. I am pleased with how he has adapted here.”
Newcastle is currently eighth in the league, with 40 points from 27 matches, as they aim to rediscover their top form after their Champions League exit.
“We are approaching the end of the season, and time seems to have flown by quickly. We are now left with only a few games and are striving to make the most of each one,” Howe remarked.
“While we have shown improvement in recent matches, we are still working to reach our peak performance levels. We hold ourselves to high standards and are not satisfied with our current position, but we hope to return to full strength as soon as possible,” he concluded.
(Reporting by Pearl Josephine Nazare in Bengaluru; Editing by Toby Davis)
