Kieran Trippier injury: Will Newcastle United defender be fit for tonight's Champions League clash?

By the end of this week, the Magpies will have played four matches in the space of a fortnight, with tonight’s (December 10) Champions League tie against Bayer Leverkusen being the third of those games.

Newcastle are currently 15th in the Champions League table, which would qualify them for the play-offs to reach the knockout stage. Leverkusen are in 20th, making the game an even match-up on paper.

Unfortunately for some of the Premier League side’s defenders, injuries to their teammates mean they won’t be getting much of a break over the Christmas period. A handful of key names have been ruled out for the time being.

On the upside, one of them could be making a return soon, according to manager Eddie Howe.

Full-back Kieran Trippier has been sidelined since November with a hamstring injury, which has kept him out of action and forced Tino Livramento to play without a rest.

Howe said: “I think they [Trippier and Emil Krafth] won’t be back sort of any time soon. In a sense of the next few games, anyway.

“We hope to get them back towards the Christmas period.”

This pencilled-in return date means Trippier won’t be featuring against Leverkusen tonight, but could be back in the next few weeks.

The end of the Christmas period would allow the England international to ease his way back into the side against Burnley on December 30, although he could return sooner.

Elsewhere in the squad, defender Sven Botman is still sidelined with a back injury, and has recently seen a specialist. Goalkeeper Nick Pope is also ruled out with an ongoing groin problem, and striker William Osula is recovering from an ankle injury.