Newcastle United are holding out hope that Javier Manquillo avoided a serious injury and will be available against West Ham with Kieran Trippier needing surgery on his broken foot.
That’s according to The Sun, who report Trippier faces six-weeks on the sidelines following X-Rays at the weekend. The Toon sent their £12m January signing from Atletico Madrid for scans immediately after fracturing the fifth metatarsal in his left foot against Aston Villa.
Trippier had scored the only goal of the game earlier in the Premier League encounter at St James’ Park. The full-back also captained the Magpies in place of skipper Jamaal Lascelles after making an instant impact on Tyneside as Eddie Howe bids to steer clear of relegation.
Howe now faces a frantic few days as Newcastle’s medical team determine if Manquillo will join Trippier out through injury. The Spaniard also sustained his gripe at home to the Villans on Sunday, with fears he suffered ankle ligament damage.
Newcastle are hopeful Manquillo’s injury is not as bad as initial fears suggest, however. But Emil Krafth is on standby to start at West Ham should he fail to recover sufficiently in time.
Manquillo boost will be big for Howe as Newcastle respond to Trippier injury
Manquillo’s injury proving to be not too severe will offer Howe a big boost while Newcastle respond to Trippier’s absence. The 27-year-old was the Toon boss’ favoured option at right-back before signing Trippier last month, while only fielding Krafth twice before facing Villa.
Additionally, Krafth struggled against the Villans when introduced after Trippier’s injury on Sunday. Manquillo, on the other hand, kept a lid on what Philippe Coutinho and co sought to carry out at St James’ Park prior to his exit while producing strong overlapping advances.
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