Newcastle United official injury update as key man ruled out for nine months after social media tease

Newcastle United have been without Botman since March after he underwent surgery on an ACL injury. The Dutchman was given a recovery time of six to nine months, and Howe has confirmed Botman is on track for the latter.

That is despite the 24-year-old’s recent social media activity raising hopes that he could be back sooner.

“We won’t see him before the next international break, we’re looking beyond that,” Howe explained. “But he’s hitting the right strength markers and looking really good.

“We haven’t seen him in training yet, and we probably won’t see him until after the next international break. But he is closing in.

“It is a long road. I know everyone wants news – we want him back and he wants to be back. But it’s got to be at the right time. The reality is that we’re probably looking more towards Christmas time.”

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 former Lille man 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.

He last featured for the Magpies in the FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Manchester City on March 16 before fellow defender Jamaal Lascelles suffered the same injury in the game after - the 4-3 comeback win against West Ham United.

Lascelles is understood to be slightly behind Botman, therefore on course to return in January 2025.