Huge blow: Howe facing major NUFC setback as big news emerges, fans will be devastated - opinion

A worrying injury setback has emerged on Newcastle United right-back Kieran Trippier.

Daily Mail journalist Craig Hope has revealed that the full-back is set to be out of action for an undetermined period of time after suffeing a blow against Aston Villa.

He Tweeted: “I’m told Kieran Trippier has broken a bone in his foot & faces spell on sidelines.”

Trippier was forced off injured in the second-half on Sunday and replaced by Emil Krafth at right-back, having scored what turned out to be the winning goal earlier in the match.

This major setback for Eddie Howe’s will leave fans gutted as it could be a huge blow for Newcastle if Trippier ends up missing a big number of games through injury. He has had a sensational impact since his January move from Spanish giants Atletico Madrid and has been pivotal to the recent upturn in form in the Premier League.

The England international has averaged a phenomenal WhoScored rating of 7.87 in the top-flight since making the switch – starting four league matches. Newcastle picked up a whopping 10 points in those games to move four points clear of the relegation zone, having previously been behind Norwich in the table.

No Magpies player has averaged a higher score this term, with Chris Wood (7.11) and Allan Saint-Maximin (7.25) the only players who are also above the 7.00 mark. This highlights how much of an impact Trippier has had on the team as he is already performing to a far higher standard than his teammates despite settling into a new team after just a month at the club.

He has proven himself to be an attacking threat as well as a solid defender. The full-back has scored twice in his last two outings, against Villa and Everton, whilst he has averaged 6.0 tackles and interceptions