'Magnificent' Newcastle United player set to leave in the summer - Eddie Howe loves him
Kieran Trippier put in another strong display for Newcastle United to help them beat Manchester United 2-1 on Wednesday night.
Eddie Howe hailed Kieran Trippier’s ‘magnificent’ impact for Newcastle United following the 2-1 win over Manchester United on Wednesday night.
After two months out with a hamstring injury, Trippier has had to start 14 of Newcastle’s last 16 matches in all competitions in the absence of Tino Livramento and more recently Lewis Miley as right-back options.
The 35-year-old has had to navigate Newcastle’s relentless fixture schedule but saved one of his best performances of the season for Wednesday night, just as Livramento and Miley close in on returns.
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Livramento has been out for two months with a hamstring injury but is stepping up his recovery and is ‘ahead of schedule’ according to Howe.
“He's getting closer and closer,” Howe said. “I know I've asked a lot about him and I understand why because I do the same to the medical team.
“It's like a chain that goes down, we’re desperate for him to be back available, but it has to be at the right time. And every injury situation is not always as simple as you give a return date and the player comes back.
“There's always little things that can happen either way. I think he's slightly ahead of the schedule initially given, but yeah, he’s in the last little bits of his rehab now.”
Livramento is expected to be back in contention within the next couple of matches while Miley has targeted the second leg of the Champions League tie against Barcelona as a potential return date from his thigh injury.
“It’s getting there now,” Miley said last week. “I got a knock to my leg and it’s caused some muscle damage. It’s been very frustrating but hopefully I am back out there soon and doing what I love.
“I’ll hopefully be back before the international break and hopefully back for a couple of games before that. I am hoping for the Barcelona away game, it will be a very good game to be back for.
“I was in really good form when I was playing, it’s been frustrating with the time when it came - but I need to be positive, keep looking forward and look forward to the games when I’m back.”
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Eddie Howe praises vintage Kieran Trippier
While Trippier is one of several players who could do with a rest for Newcastle, the returns of Livramento and Miley come as the experienced full-back is hitting a good run of form.
Reflecting on Wednesday’s display, Howe said: “It was. I mean, vintage Kieran, really. He was feeling cramped and feeling the effects of the speed of the game, as a number of our players were.
“And that's where you've got to remember he's playing every week. It's a tough physical challenge for someone who's 21, let alone someone who's Kieran's age.
“I thought he was magnificent for us today. Not just in how he played, but his experience, his game management, his know-how, his little things that people might not see. His experience is invaluable to us. So big congratulations to him.”
Kieran Trippier set to leave NUFC as things stand
There is also the acknowledgement that Trippier’s days are numbered at Newcastle, with his current contract set to expire in the summer. The defender turns 36 in September is likely to assess his options in the summer.