Newcastle United without key man for another 12 weeks after fresh injury update

The Dutch defender underwent an operation on an ACL injury in March and was given a recovery time between six to nine months. There had been hope Botman would return towards the lower end of that timescale having regularly shared updates on social media of him lightly jogging and kicking a ball.

However, according to the Mail Online, such hopes have “faded” with the 24-year-old’s return pencilled in for the end of the year. Newcastle’s new performance director James Bunce is overseeing return-to-play programmes amid an unprecedent amount of injuries last season.

Botman’s 2023-24 campaign was blighted by two serious injuries to his knee. He was initially ruled out between September and December after suffering partial ACL tear.

He opted against surgery then, allowing him to return to playing in December but from then to March, Botman looked a shadow of himself, which eventually resulted in an operation.

“It’s a complex story with Sven,” Eddie Howe explained. “Initially he had a partial tear [earlier this season]. We sought specialist opinion and there was conflicting reports on what he should do next.

"Ultimately, our medical team advised him to get surgery, but he wanted to carry on. He has then aggravated that issue. He now has a long road ahead of him, but the operation went well so we hope he comes back in a better place. Now we'll support him and help him back.

"You can't force a player to have an operation, no matter what an opinion may be internally. Sven was very certain in his mind what he wanted to do."