Newcastle United have suffered a blow in their battle to avoid relegation from the Premier League after key defender Kieran Trippier suffered a fractured bone in his foot.
Trippier, who joined in a £12 million ($16.2m) pound deal from Spanish side Atletico Madrid at the start of the January transfer window, limped off just after half-time during the team's 1-0 home win over Aston Villa on Sunday.
The 31-year-old right-back had scored what turned out to be the winning goal at St James' Park, the second consecutive game that Trippier had found the net from a free-kick, following his superb strike in the 3-1 win over Everton.
“Trippier underwent an X-ray immediately after the game and scans have shown a fracture to the fifth metatarsal bone in his left foot,” the club said in a statement giving no time frame for his absence.
The usual recovery time from such an injury is at least six weeks but it is more likely to be an even longer spell on the sidelines.
Trippier has made an immediate impact on Tyneside, quickly becoming a fans' favourite, helping the team secure three league victories in a row. He took over the captaincy against Villa with Jamaal Lascelles missing due to illness.
Newcastle now sit 17th in the table, four points clear of the relegation zone but the news of the England defender's injury will take the shine off what has been a huge upturn in form of late.
The Magpies' next match is away to West Ham United on Saturday that is followed by another trip to London when they take on Brentford.
Newcastle 1 Aston Villa 0: player ratings
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NEWCASTLE RATINGS: Martin Dubravka - 7: Not a save to make in first half, and not particularly busy in second even with Villa more of a threat. AFP -
Kieran Trippier - 8: Captain for day in Jamaal Lascelle’s absence and scored his second free-kick in successive games, via a slight deflection. Was injury concern before game and limped off just after half-time in huge blow for Magpies. PA -
Dan Burn - 9: Local boy making his debut and enjoyed a man-of-the-match performance. Calm and commanding from start to finish. Ripped a massive chunk out of Mings’ shirt in second-half tussle. Getty -
Fabian Schar - 8: Looked in trouble after being caught in face by teammate Trippier’s arm in first five minutes but returned to action after long stoppage. Left with cut round eye that required more treatment and a bandage round his head. Didn’t stop him putting in committed shift. AFP -
Javier Manquillo - 7: Looked in trouble after nasty landing resulted in ankle injury. Tried to carry on but limped off just before half-time bringing an early end to his 100th game for the club. PA -
Jonjo Shelvey - 8: Fine game in midfield. Chased and harried Villa, made important challenges and was sensible in possession. Booked for scything down Ramsey. AFP -
Joe Willock - 7: Clipped first-time shot well wide on 20 minutes. Starting to find a bit form in midfield and crowd appreciated his effort and workrate. PA -
Joelinton - 7: Booked for trying to relieve Buendia of his shirt. Relishes his role in midfield where Newcastle are really benefitting from his hard graft. Distribution was great and made some important interceptions. Reuters -
Ryan Fraser - 7: Scot is enjoying a good run in the team. Always busy, always looking for the ball and should have been put through on goal by Wood in first half. Another Newcastle player whose workrate was exemplary. Getty -
Allan Saint-Maximin - 6: Quiet until 25th minute when he skipped past Cash and chipped ball into box but struggled to make impact as Villa regularly doubled up on him. PA -
Chris Wood - 6: Couldn’t get any power or direction on header when picked out by Fraser and then hit abysmal shot high and wide with Fraser better placed just before half-time. AFP -
SUBS: Paul Dummett – (On for Manquillo 45 + 4’) 7: Slotted straight in at left-back. No-nonsense defending was what Newcastle needed in second half. Getty -
Emil Krafth – (On for Trippier 49’) 6: Played Watkins onside for goal that was disallowed by VAR but did OK for rest of half. Reuters -
Bruno Guimaraes – (Willock 90 +2’) N/A. AFP -
ASTON VILLA RATINGS: Emiliano Martinez - 6: Might have saved Trippier free-kick if not for deflection. Crazy decision to come charging out of box that almost resulted in Mings scoring an own goal. Reuters -
Matty Cash - 7: Drilled shot just wide at start of second half and was given too much space by Newcastle as Villa found joy down Newcastle’s flanks after break. Helped keep Saint-Maximin relatively quiet. AFP -
Calum Chambers - 6: First start for Villa but was a couple of centimetres from giving away clumsy penalty after fouling Willock … only for Trippier to belt home the resulting free-kick. PA -
Tyrone Mings - 7: Headed over from corner just before break then nearly headed into his own net a minute later after rush of blood by goalkeeper. Left with half a shirt after tussle with Burn. Reuters -
Lucas Digne - 6: Like Cash, made use of extra space he was given by Newcastle down his flank in second half but some of his final balls were poor. AFP -
John McGinn - 6: Booked for chopping down Saint-Maxmin although looked like Scot got ball first. Had shot deflected just wide in first-half injury time but not his usual influential self for Villa. Getty -
Douglas Luiz - 4: Woefully over-hit his first two set-pieces out for goal kicks – from a free-kick and a corner - which summed up Villa’s efforts in the first 45 minutes. Reuters -
Jacob Ramsey - 5: Highly-rated midfielder bagged two against Leeds midweek but never looked like doing same on Tyneside. The 20-year-old had minimal impact on game. Getty -
Emiliano Buendia - 6: His slight deflection on Trippier free-kick helped take shot away from Martinez. Looped header just wide minutes after Villa had goal disallowed. Getty -
Philipe Coutinho - 4: Manager Steven Gerrard said before the game they are still building the Brazilian’s fitness and he contributed very little for Villa here. Reuters -
Ollie Watkins - 5: Well marshalled by Newcastle in first half and barely touched the ball. Thought he had headed home leveller only for extremely tight VAR offside call. Reuters -
SUBS: Danny Ings – (On for Watkins 73’) 5: Striker wasn't allowed any goalscoring opportunities. AFP -
Leon Bailey – (On for Buendia 73’) 5: Did little on his return to action bar fouling Dummett and pick up a booking for bringing down Saint-Maximin. PA -
Carney Chukwuemeka – (On for McGinn 85’) N/A. PA
March's fixture list sees Eddie Howe's team face Brighton at St James' Park, Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, followed by another home game, this time against Crystal Palace.
An optimistic scenario would see Trippier back for the trip to his former club Tottenham Hotspur at the start of April but a longer period out is more likely.
Defender Dan Burn — another January signing who produced a man-of-the-match performance on his debut against Villa — highlighted Trippier's importance to the team after the match.
“Tripps is a different level of quality that we probably haven’t had here for a long time,” Burn said before his teammate's diagnosis. “He’s won La Liga, he’s a regular England international and he shows it, and the lads feed off him.”
