Newcastle Boss Eddie Howe Addresses Kieran Trippier’s Injury Concerns
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has reassured fans that England defender Kieran Trippier did not sustain an injury during the club’s recent friendly match against Tottenham in Australia.
Pre-Planned Withdrawal for Trippier
Trippier, who started the game in front of a large crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, was substituted after 37 minutes following an apparent knock on his ankle. However, Howe clarified that Trippier’s early exit was part of a pre-planned strategy to gradually build up his match fitness in preparation for Euro 2024.
Howe explained to reporters, “No, that was all planned. We spoke to Kieran and decided that starting him was the best approach. He is still in the early stages of recovery, so we opted not to take any risks. Playing for half an hour was always the target. He performed well and is not dealing with any injury concerns. We will monitor his condition closely leading up to Friday’s assessment to ensure his proper care in the initial stages of recovery.”
Trippier’s Return to Fitness
Prior to the friendly match, Trippier had only featured in three games for Newcastle since March due to a calf injury. Despite his recent setbacks, Trippier was included in Gareth Southgate’s 33-man training squad for the upcoming tournament.
England’s Euro 2024 Squad Selection
Southgate faces the task of trimming the squad to 26 players by June 7. Trippier, a veteran of England’s past three major tournaments, aims to secure his spot in the final squad for the competition.
During the match in Melbourne, Alexander Isak equalized after James Maddison’s opener, resulting in a 1-1 draw. Both managers made wholesale changes to their starting lineups. Newcastle emerged victorious in the penalty shootout, with young players Joe White, Ben Parkinson, Amadou Diallo, Garang Kuol, and Harrison Ashby all converting their spot-kicks.
Looking ahead, Howe and his team will now focus on preparing for their upcoming fixture against an A-League All Stars team on Friday.