Eddie Howe provides Kieran Trippier injury update after operation on fractured foot

Newcastle United manager could not confirm that Kieran Trippier will feature again this season, despite a successful operation on the foot he fractured against Aston Villa on Sunday.

The January signing scored the only goal of the game in a huge win over Villa, but had to be taken off early in the second half after sustaining the serious injury.

It was confirmed after the match that the England international fractured his foot and while Howe hopes that he will feature again this season, it is no guarantee.

‘The update is that he had his operation yesterday and that went well, so that was good news,’ Howe told a press conference on Friday.

‘I don’t know, at this moment in time, how long he’s going to be out.

‘We obviously hope to have him back before the end of the season but obviously it’s a significant injury, which is a big blow to us because he was performing so well.

‘As I said, we hope to see him before the end of the season, but In terms of a definitive time, no, we’ll have to see how his early rehab goes. The operation was a success but it’s an opportunity now for someone else to step up in his place.

‘Certainly we’re going to miss his leadership skills on the pitch and everything he was delivering for us. Scored two goals in the last two games, which have been defining moments for us, but we’re confident we’ve got enough quality in the squad to cover.’

Trippier had made a great start to life at St James’ Park after his move from Atletico Madrid, also scoring in the 3-1 win over Everton.

He plans to be helping out in whatever way possible as the club continues to fight against relegation, although clearly this will not be on the pitch for the foreseeable future.

‘It’s really frustrating to have picked up the