Kieran Trippier set for return to Newcastle action against Manchester City

NEWCASTLE: Kieran Trippier finally looks set for his long-awaited Newcastle United return against Manchester City. The Magpies travel to Premier League title-challengers City looking to keep their own hopes of a top 10 Premier League finish alive — and they are likely to have England international defender Trippier, himself a Man City academy graduate, fit for Sunday’s encounter. Trippier, a high-profile January addition from Atletico Madrid, has not kicked a ball since he proved the match-winner in the Magpies’ 1-0 win over Aston Villa in February.

A broken foot, which required an operation, has kept him out for almost three months. But having returned to full first-team training last Friday, the 31-year-old is edging closer to wearing the famous black and white in the Premier League run-in. When asked whether Trippier will be available for the trip to the Etihad, head coach Eddie Howe said: “We’ll see how his training week progresses.

Yes, that training session was Friday, so he was never going to be in contention to play (against Liverpool). We’ll see how he progresses during the week.” On Saturday, United suffered only their fourth loss of 2022, and their first of the calendar year in the Premier League at St. James’ Park, to Man City’s title rivals Liverpool.

Naby Keita got the only goal of the game in the first half. One player who went off during that game was Fabian Schar. When asked about the nature of the problem — and whether it will keep the player out — Howe said: “I don’t know, it was related to the tackle.

I don’t know what it is. I haven’t spoken to him or the medical team yet. We hope it’s nothing serious but obviously it was enough for him to come off.” While United turned to the likes of Jacob Murphy