TRIPPIER IN LINE FOR NEWCASTLE DEBUT

New signing Kieran Trippier could make his debut for Newcastle United during their FA Cup clash with Cambridge United. The Magpies play hosts to the League One side on Saturday and England international Trippier could play his first game for the club.

Newcastle United confirmed the signing of Trippierearlier on Friday in a £12m deal plus add-ons. He will wear the number 15 shirt at the struggling Premier League club. The Englishman has put pen to paper on a two-and-a-half year contract with the Magpies as the first signing since the £300m takeover of the club three months. A Saudi-led consortium completed the takeover of the club from previous owner Mike Ashley in October.

31-year-old Trippier is an experienced fullback who would improve the Magpies squad. He was an integral part of the England squad that finished fourth at the last FIFA World Cup tournament in Russia almost four years ago. Also, he played his part for England as they reached the Euro 2020 final last summer.

Trippier is no stranger to Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe who was appointed into the role in November. Howe signed him for Burnley in 2012.

While Trippier could be involved with the Magpies for their FA Cup third round clash, they are expected to be without several players including midfielder Isaac Hayden who was been ruled out of action until March because of a knee injury as stated by Howe in his latest interview ahead of the Cambridge United game.

Howe said that Hayden had a long-standing problem with his knee and that the pain became unbearable for him. The former Arsenal Academy graduate has been ruled out for ten weeks. Apart from Hayden, the likes of Argentine defender Federico Fernandez (thigh), Northern Irish fullback Jamaal Lewis (thigh) and Scottish winger Ryan Fraser (thigh) could also miss the Cambridge United clash.