£35m Newcastle star posts encouraging fitness update as he strives to return from injury ahead of schedule

Sven Botman was a colossal figure in the 2022/23 Newcastle defence which secured a return to the Champions League for the first time in 20 years whilst conceding just 33 goals in the league. However, he endured a much more subdued second season with the Magpies last term due to injuries.

Overall, the 24-year-old centre back who arrived from Lille in 2022, was restricted to just 19 appearances across all competitions as the Magpies failed to qualify for any form of European competition.

The Dutchman’s injury struggles became apparent early in the season when he sustained a knee problem shortly after a 8-0 victory over Sheffield United.

Botman missed a total of 10 league games during that period but looked a long way off full fitness when he returned to the team during a hugely difficult Christmas period which saw the club lose valuable points against the likes of Nottingham Forest, Luton and Arsenal while also failing to qualify from the Champions League group stage.

Botman's last appearance for the Magpies came during an FA Cup defeat to Manchester City in late March and by this stage it had become apparent that he had sustained a long-term ACL injury which would need a swift operation.

The centre back is expected to miss most of the remainder of 2024 with the problem, in a huge blow to the Magpies, given that he was not only the club’s best centre back in 2022/23 but also one of the very best performers in the entire division.

Following Botman’s injury the club has already secured the summer signing of Lloyd Kelly on a free from Bournemouth to provide competition to both Fabian Schar and Dan Burn, with club captain Jamaal Lascelles also absent through injury.

The Magpies will hope that the trio can remain fit for the season after an avalanche of problems in that area last term. Eddie Howe is also hoping that Botman can make a timely recovery from his injury due to the sense of control and composure that he can bring to the backline.

So far, Botman seems to be making a good start to his rehabilitation and in an encouraging post on Instagram shared a video with supporters, which shows him back on the grass, running and kicking the ball.

As it stands, no timeline has been set on his recovery, but Botman has previously vowed to fans that when he does return he will come back as an even better player.

In an emotional Instagram post at the time of his injury back in March, he said: “It is difficult to accept that surgery is out of the question, after fighting so hard to avoid this step. The support and love I have already received means a lot to me. I won’t be able to do what I love the most for a while, but after my knee problems recently, I know I will come out of this period as a better player. My team Newcastle United remains the most important and I will continue to support you every day. We are a family.”