---
title: "Newcastle United: Paddy Kenny on Hugo Ekitike injury news"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/reims-transfer-news-ekitike-premier-league-2/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Adam Clancy"
section: "Newcastle United News"
published: "2022-06-12T18:45:02Z"
modified: "2022-06-12T18:45:02Z"
---

# Newcastle United: Paddy Kenny on Hugo Ekitike injury news

**Former [Premier League](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premier-league-news/) goalkeeper Paddy Kenny has been reacting to news on reported [Newcastle United](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/newcastle-united-news/) transfer target Hugo Ekitike.**

### The Lowdown: Ekitike injured

The 19-year-old was unfortunately [forced off](https://twitter.com/karimattab1/status/1534931048181772288?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1534931048181772288%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fd-13671156532609874777.ampproject.net%2F2205270638004%2Fframe.html) after just five minutes of the France under-20s’ match against their Mexico counterparts on Thursday evening.

As per [Sky Sports](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12629346/hugo-ekitike-french-striker-holds-positive-talks-with-newcastle-after-reims-give-him-permission-to-talk-to-magpies), the St James’ Park club have held positive talks with the striker’s representatives over a potential move to Tyneside this summer.

### The Latest: Kenny reacts

Speaking to [Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/newcastle-united-to-end-hugo-ekitike-interest-after-concerning-development-pundit/), Kenny has now given his reaction to the news, claiming that Ekitike’s latest injury will be ‘concerning’ for Newcastle.

The [former top-flight goalkeeper](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/paddy-kenny/detaillierteleistungsdaten/spieler/13524) said: *“It’s not a good thing, this injury and he isn’t going to be their number one striker.*

*“Do you move on? He has a few injuries. If he was their number one target you would probably still do the deal.*

*“But he’s not, is he? He is going to be a player for the future. It depends on how much Newcastle want him to be honest.*

*“It has to be concerning though, that same injury popping up again.* *You have to take notice of that but if they really want him it won’t stop Newcastle.”*

\[freshpress-quiz id=”398104″\]

### The Verdict: Worrying

Of course Ekitike’s latest injury is worrying news, as it could potentially jeopardise any potential deal to bring him to the Magpies.

He suffered a similar injury last season which kept him out for [10](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/hugo-ekitike/verletzungen/spieler/709726) matches for Reims, and there may be fears at St James’ Park that the 19-year-old is now starting to become injury-prone.

\[freshpress-poll id=”385120″\]

Nonetheless, if he is their number one striker priority, Eddie Howe and co should be looking to sign him anyway, regardless of this latest setback.

Thought to be the ‘[next Mbappe’](https://twitter.com/GraemeBailey/status/1480587429698543620) by some in France, the teenager certainly seems to have a bright future ahead of him; and having broken onto the scene with 11 goals and four assists in French football last term ([Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/hugo-ekitike/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/709726/plus/0?saison=2021&verein=1421&liga=&wettbewerb=&pos=&trainer_id=)), Newcastle will want to get their hands on him before anyone else does.

***In other news,*** [***find out what Luke Edwards has now been ‘told’ about this Newcastle transfer target***](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/newcastle-united-news/lille-transfer-news-botman-ac-milan/)