Newcastle injury update as Eddie Howe reveals plan of action for integral duo
Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has provided an update on the recoveries of integral pair Callum Wilson and Kieran Trippier.
English forward Wilson hit six goals in 15 Premier League matches, either side of a hamstring issue, before picking up a calf injury in the 1-1 draw with Manchester United back in December.
Wilson has been out ever since, forcing him to miss Newcastle’s upturn in form and the ability to play alongside their January arrivals.
Despite the attacker’s long lay off, he is still Newcastle’s top scorer this term with six goals. Allan Saint-Maximin is close behind with five, and after that it is five different players on two each.
One of those to have reached two goals is recent signing Kieran Trippier. The right-back hit strikes in successive wins against Everton and Aston Villa before fracturing a metatarsal.
Like Wilson, Trippier’s absence is a big one for Howe and Newcastle.
Newcastle players ‘on schedule’ – Eddie Howe
During an interview with club media, Howe has given an update on the duo.
“I’d say they’re on schedule from where they were given their respective injuries, but I wouldn’t say necessarily ahead of schedule,” the manager said.
“They’re both serious injuries, both enough to obviously be operated on and go through a very intense rehab period.
“Callum’s injury, you have to be very careful with, that we don’t push him back too quickly and he ends up injuring himself again. The Achilles/calf is a very delicate area of the body and you need to make sure it’s robust enough to withstand heavy load.
“Kieran’s is slightly different. [It’s] a bone injury and I think, touch wood, if he can come through the early stages of coming out in his boots and then progressing quite quickly, he’s one we could see back in action hopefully pretty soon.
“But with both injuries, I do think we have to be very cautious. We don’t want to re-injure the player.”
The Magpies will likely have to play without Wilson and Trippier when they return to action after the international break. Howe’s men travel to Spurs on Sunday April 3 before hosting Wolves at St James’ Park five days later.
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