'Back asap' - Newcastle United injury-plagued star makes return pledge in raw social media post
Newcastle United defender Sven Botman will be out for the next eight weeks in a knee injury.
Newcastle United defender Sven Botman has taken to social media to express his disappointment at having to go under the knife ahead of the Carabao Cup final.
The Netherlands-born defender will have an operation to fix a knee issue - not the one he suffered an ACL injury on - which will see him not only miss next week’s showpiece at Wembley v Liverpool, but also most of the remaining Premier League fixtures between now and May.
Botman was involved in a social media spat with a Newcastle fan account yesterday - full details of which can be read here - who not only claimed the player would be out until the end of the season, something now denied by himself and head coach Eddie Howe, but also accused the player of being ‘injury-prone’. It seems likely it was the latter comment that got the former Lille man worked up.
And in an impassioned post to his Instagram story, Botman has decided to speak direct to fans and address his disappointment at missing out on the Carabao Cup final, but also pledging to be back as soon as he possibly can be.
His post read: “Frustrated times for me and the club as I have to proceed a small surgery. I’ll give my 100% as always to get back asap.
“The team needs the full support to bring the cup to Newcastle and finish strong in the league.
“See you soon mags.”
How long will Sven Botman be injured and when will he return?
Eddie Howe has revealed Sven Botman will be ruled out for eight weeks with a knee injury - before the season finale on May 25.
NewcastleWorld reported in midweek that the Magpies were sweating on the Dutchman’s fitness ahead of the Carabao Cup. Botman has not featured for Newcastle since the 2-0 second-leg win over Arsenal last month.
Toon fans were understandably nervous given Botman’s history - he missed the bulk of 2024 as he recovered from ACL surgery. The 25-year-old was one of Newcastle’s blue-chip signings following the Saudi-backed takeover and he was vital in Champions League qualification two years ago.
However, just five appearances before breaking down again raised concerns about his long-term future. The Daily Mail later reported Botman would undergo surgery and is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
“With Sven, we’ve been trying to get him back to full fitness,” Howe said. “He was very close for the Brighton game. The day before, one of his last actions in training, he felt a problem in his knee. That meant a bit of resetting, we still hoped he would come back.
“But this week, again, he’s felt the same discomfort. It now looks like he will need an operation. He needs a small operation to clear out some fluid then he’ll be fine again. It has come from a knock in one of his first games back.”