Eddie Howe is hopeful that January signing Kieran Trippier will soon be back in action for Newcastle United.
The former Burnley and Tottenham Hotspur star has been sidelined since February with a metatarsal fracture but Trippier soon ditched a protective boot and is now back in the grass and edging closer to training alongside the first-team group. Trippier has been a constant presence in the locker room during his stint out of the team.
Howe was enthusiastic about Trippier's chances of playing again this season when asked at his press conference ahead of the Leicester game. And while he would not confirm whether he would make the Norwich game or earlier fixtures, a date original mooted for Trippier, Howe said: "Personally they (Trippier and Callum Wilson) are feeling OK because they are both in a good place and improving. "They are in line with what we expected.
READ MORE: The remarkable feat that Eddie Howe and his staff can still pull off
"Kieran I think is very slightly ahead of schedule. He is beginning to run on the grass again with his boots on. That is a great sign for us. He still has to now build up his fitness and everything that comes with that."
Wilson has not played since the 1-1 draw against Manchester United and has had to watch on as his team-mates carried out the majority of the club's survival battle without him. But fans will be roaring the number 9 back on to the field when he's fit again.
Howe said: "Callum is now hitting balls towards the goal, no goalkeeper at the moment so it's only against mannequins at the moment. He is gradually building up to where he wants to be."
Howe was asked any specific comeback dates for the pair, who will surely return at some point in April given their progress behind the scenes, but said said: "No dates at the moment or games identified. We just want them to feel good within themselves and their respective injuries."
