Big boost: Newcastle set for huge injury lift "next week" that'll leave Howe buzzing - opinion

Newcastle United have been handed a major boost over the availability of the versatile Matt Ritchie…

The Athletic’s Chris Waugh has relayed Eddie Howe’s injury update and stated that the Scottish full-back is set to be back in training for the club “next week”.

Meanwhile, Allan Saint-Maximin is a doubt for today’s clash against Brighton, while Kieran Trippier and Callum Wilson remain the two long-term injury absentees for the Magpies.

Speaking about Ritchie’s situation previously, Howe said: “It was a strange injury with Matt. He was just striking a ball and felt something in his knee.

“He’s had a period where he had to back right off and have minimal activity but he’s running again in a straight line and he’s stepping up closer to being back full-time with the group.”

The Newcastle manager will surely be buzzing with Ritchie’s return, as the full-back has not played a Premier League match since the defeat to Manchester City in December. His only appearance of 2022 so far came in the 1-0 defeat to Cambridge in the FA Cup in early January and he now looks set to be available for the final stretch of the campaign.

Whilst he may not be a guaranteed starter now that Matt Targett has arrived on loan from Aston Villa, the 32-year-old can still provide value to the squad for the rest of the season. The ex-Bournemouth man has shown that he can play in a multitude of roles across the pitch and Howe will be able to call upon him in a variety of situations which may arise in the coming months.

Ritchie can play at left-back, left wing-back, left-midfield, right-midfield and right-wing. This means that he can slot in if any wide players – in defence or attack – sustain an injury or pick up a suspension, and that makes him a valuable