'Long road' - Newcastle United injury update as key man ruled out until December

Both centre-backs were ruled out with ACL injuries just a couple of weeks apart. Botman last featured for the Magpies in the FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Manchester City on March 16 before Lascelles suffered the same fate in the game after - the 4-3 comeback win against West Ham United.

Their absent has left United short at the heart of the defence with Howe having to rely on Fabian Schar, Dan Burn, Lloyd Kelly and Emil Krafth until they return, which won’t be anytime soon.

Howe explained: "Both players have shown a great attitude to their injuries. Long road ahead for both of them. They're sort of in the middle of that time now.

“Both seem a lot more positive and I think it's natural when you first have the injury. You sort of have the operation, and you're in the early stages, you can't do a lot, there's a feeling of frustration.

"I've been there as an athlete, it's a difficult moment. But when you start to do more and you get the heartbeat going and you get the physical work started, you feel so much better about yourself.

"They're currently in slightly different stages, I'd say Sven's probably a little bit ahead of Jamaal just in terms of their rehabs, but both players committed to their work and doing great."

Botman’s 2023-24 campaign was blighted by not just one but two serious injuries to his knee having initially sat out matches between September and December because of partial ACL tear.

The Dutchman first opted against surgery, allowing him to return to playing around Christmas time but from then to March, Botman looked a shadow of himself, which eventually resulted in an operation.

Earlier this month, Newcastle sporting director Paul Mitchell revealed Botman is due to return in December. Should he be slightly ahead of Lascelles, as claimed by Howe, then the latter is likely to be back early 2025.