“Paul Mitchell Confirms Sven Botman’s December Return Following ACL Injury”
Paul Mitchell announced that Sven Botman is expected to return in December after suffering an ACL injury. The Dutch defender had surgery in March and was initially projected to be out for six to nine months. Earlier in the season, Botman played two games despite having a minor ligament tear in his knee, sustained against Brentford.
This resulted in a four-month recovery period, during which the center-back opted against surgery. However, he struggled to return to his previous form and eventually underwent surgery earlier this year, which dealt a setback to Newcastle’s season.
Eddie Howe mentioned last month that both Botman and Jamaal Lascelles, who also suffered an ACL injury, were halfway through their recovery. He told the media, “I don’t expect either player back for months. They are roughly halfway through their recovery process, so there’s still a long way to go for both players.”
Mitchell has now revealed that Botman is anticipated to return in December, sharing this update with the media following a difficult transfer window. He said, “Sven will be back in December, bringing a significant boost in quality.
“What we lost during this transfer window, we’ve gained internally. With fewer games, squad availability will improve, and key players will return to the starting XI, including our second-record signing, Sandro Tonali, which will enhance the team’s quality.
“There are always ways to add value to your squad, but it’s all about having a strategy in place and preparing for different scenarios.”