Newcastle United are starting to see some players return from injuries, but the one who has been missing the longest is still missing.
Sven Botman last played for Newcastle United on September 24th. He scored his first goal for the club in the Magpies’ 8-0 win over Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.
It was a remarkable day with eight different scorers, but no one expected it to be Botman’s last appearance for months.
He has now missed Newcastle’s last 17 games, and the latest news from the Athletic’s David Ornstein suggests that figure will rise.
David Ornstein believes Sven Botman is nearing a return
Journalist David Ornstein answered questions on the Athletic’s website, including whether Newcastle will be able to make any additions in January given their Financial Fair Play restrictions.
He emphasized that the team has the ability to make new additions, but that there will be no spending spree.
Ornstein went on to say that Newcastle may look for a new center-back, but that will rely on Sven Botman’s return, which he believes is not far away.
Ornstein said of Botman, “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 few weeks away, it appears that Jamaal Lascelles’ tenure in the team will continue.
During Botman’s absence, the 30-year-old has stepped up, though his play has dropped in the Magpies’ previous three games.
Eddie Howe, on the other hand, could make changes between now and Botman’s return. With Dan Burn back in the lineup, he might put the 31-year-old in the middle of defense and keep Tino Livramento on the left, where he has excelled.
With players returning from injury, Howe now has some opportunities to shake things up.
But it is Botman who he will be trying to reclaim. Even though we have mostly survived without him, he has been a huge loss. He is our finest center-back, and his ball-control ability has a significant impact on how we launch assaults from deep.
If Ornstein is true, we should regain access to that weapon again within the next several weeks.
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