Newcastle United are starting to get some players back from injury, but the one who has been missing for the longest is still nowhere to be seen.
The last time Sven Botman played for Newcastle United was September 24th. He scored his first ever goal for the club as the Magpies beat Sheffield United 8-0 at Bramall Lane.
It was a historic day with eight different scorers, but no one imagined it would be the last time we would see Botman for months.
He has now missed Newcastle’s previous 17 games, and it sounds like that number is going to increase based on the latest update from the Athletic’s David Ornstein.
David Ornstein believes Sven Botman is nearing a return
Journalist David Ornstein has done a Q&A on the Athletic’s website, with someone asking him whether or not Newcastle will be able to make any signings in January given their Financial Fair Play limitations.
He stated that the club do have the capacity to make some new signings, but there will not be a spending spree.
Ornstein went on to add that a new centre-back could be something that Newcastle consider, but that will depend on Sven Botman’s return – which he believes is not too far away.
On Botman, Ornstein wrote: “I hear he is a couple of weeks away and if all goes well it’s a massive boost.”
Newcastle have desperately missed Botman during injury layoff
With Botman still a couple of weeks away from returning, it looks like Jamaal Lascelles’ run in the team will continue.
The 30-year-old has stepped up during Botman’s absence, although his form has dipped during the Magpies’ last few games.
Alternatively, Eddie Howe could tweak things between now and Botman’s return. With Dan Burn available once again, he could play the 31-year-old in the middle of defence and allow Tino Livramento remain on the left – where he has impressed.
With players beginning to return from injury, Howe does at least have some options to mix things up.
But the one he will be desperate to get back is Botman. Even though we have largely coped without him, he has been a massive miss. He is our best centre-back, while his ability on the ball has a huge impact on the way we launch attacks from deep.
If Ornstein is correct, we should have that weapon available to us once again in the next couple of weeks.
