'Word this morning' - Craig Hope drops update on another NUFC injury after Trippier 'disaster'

Newcastle are optimistic that Javier Manquillo’s injury is ‘not too serious’, according to The Daily Mail’s Craig Hope. 

In the journalist’s own words, the Spaniard is the ‘likely deputy’ to Kieran Trippier at right-back, and the £12m January signing from Atletico Madrid faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines after fracturing a bone in his foot in Sunday’s win over Aston Villa.

The Chronicle’s Lee Ryder called it a ‘hammer blow’ for the Magpies, while Dean Jones said it was a ‘disaster‘, and lightning appeared to strike twice for Eddie Howe’s team as Manquillo was also forced off against the Villans.

Hope took to Twitter to provide the latest on Manquillo’s knock at the weekend, offering a note of cautious optimism that it may not be an extensive injury.

The journalist outlined: “Trippier’s likely deputy is Javier Manquillo. He, too, went off injured on Sunday & Howe feared ankle ligament damage. More results are awaited but word this morning was that there is hope it’s not too serious.”

It remains to be seen whether Manquillo will be fit to travel to the London Stadium to face West Ham United on Saturday. If that match comes too soon, Howe may need to turn to Emil Krafth to fill the right-back slot.

However, there are concerns over whether the Swede is really good enough to be playing consistently at this level. Indeed, Ian Wright has described him as ‘out of his depth’, while WhoScored rank him among Newcastle’s poorest performers this season, with an average rating of just 6.33/10.

Therefore, the Magpies will be banking on hearing good news about Manquillo, as they are already without six players aside from him, namely Trippier, Federico Fernandez (thigh), Isaac Hayden, Matt Ritchie (both knee), Callum Wilson (calf)