Eddie Howe has given a more accurate update on Newcastle United defender Sven Botman’s return to action following training ground photos.
Newcastle have their fair share of impactful injuries plaguing the first team of their squad already this season and the international break could not have come at a better time.
The Magpies have six players currently ruled out, with four set to recover when Premier League football returns on October 19th, which will be a huge relief for Eddie Howe.
Alexander Isak, Lewis Miley, Callum Wilson and Martin Dubravka are all expected to be fit for the clash with Brighton and Hove Albion at St James’ Park next weekend, but the Newcastle boss will likely update on the recovery of these four key players closer to the time.
The two remaining long-term injuries are held by centre-back duo Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles who both needed surgery to correct their ACL issues in the latter stages of last season.
Botman has been teasing supporters with an imminent return on Instagram with pictures of himself on the training ground and a clock emoji on his story that sent fans into a frenzy at the possibility of a quicker recovery.
However, Howe has now poured cold water over the exciting updates that Botman has been teasing on social media, and whilst it is not bad news for the Magpies, it certainly dampens a few dreams of seeing the Dutchman back on the pitch in the coming weeks.
When asked if Botman was ahead of schedule, the Newcastle boss revealed (via NewcastleWorld):
“No, I don’t think so,”
“I think he’s progressing as we’d expect. I don’t think we expect to see him any time this month, it’ll be small but positive steps.”
“He’s in a good place, hopefully we’ll see him before the end of the year.”
When will Sven Botman return from injury?
There is no doubt that Newcastle are crying out for a more consistent and dominant presence in their defensive set up based on the performances this season already.
Botman is a huge miss for the Magpies and his return will be warmly welcomed by the St James’ Park faithful when the time is right, however, the supporters will continue to look to Howe and new sporting director Paul Mitchell for their failures to bring in a centre-back this summer to bolster the centre-back role.
Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi was the object of Howe’s desires for months and after months of back and forth with the South London club and numerous bids submitted, the North East giants missed out on their man.
Having said that, Newcastle are currently seventh in the Premier League table after seven games which is a healthy place to be considering the injuries to some of their most important players in the team.
It is expected that the Netherlands native will return in the turn of the year, which means another two months without his talent and consistency in the back-line, but does beg the question as to whether Newcastle will dip their toes into the transfer market in January to revive their pursuit of a defender.
Either way, it is better to have Botman back at full fitness than to rush him back and risk another spell on the side-lines, so in this instance the supporters will need to be patient and hold hope that in the next two months the side can continue to churn out much-needed results.
