Newcastle United defender Sven Botman is ruled out with another knee injury.
The 25-year-old only just returned for Newcastle United at the start of 2025, having missed 10 months of action with an ACL injury.
Sven Botman actually suffered two ACL injuries last season, but did not have an operation on the first. That proved to be a mistake, as the Dutchman succumbed to another injury.
Now the defender is ruled out again, but this time it is an injury to the opposite knee that was operated on.
Following the news, Newcastle fans have been worried about Botman. There have even been fears that this could be a season-ending injury.
Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images
Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images
Eddie Howe confirms how long Sven Botman will be injured for
However, it looks like that will not be the case.
Newcastle hoped Botman’s injury was not too serious, and Eddie Howe has provided a relatively promising update on the centre-back ahead of the Magpies’ game against West Ham.
“Sven, we have been trying to get him back to full fitness, he was very close to the Brighton game but the day before he felt something again in his knee,” he said.
“This week he has had the same discomfort so it looks like he will have to have an operation. He needs a small operation to clear out some fluid and then he should be fine again. We hope he should be back in about eight weeks.”
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Eddie Howe on Sven Botman:
"Sven, we have been trying to get him back to full fitness, he was very close to the Brighton game but the day before he felt something again in his knee. This week he has had the same discomfort so it looks like he will have to have an operation.
He… pic.twitter.com/BmZp8KYHYU
— Newcastle United (@NUFC) March 7, 2025
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When Botman could be available again for Newcastle United
While a player undergoing surgery is never good news, the one positive is that Botman may only miss a further two months of action.
Howe has stated that Botman could be unavailable for the next eight weeks. If that proves to be the case, he will be fit to return at the beginning of May.
That would give him the chance to take part in the Magpies’ final few games of the season. Newcastle have four games scheduled for May, as they face Brighton, Chelsea, Arsenal and Everton.
There could be a lot to play for in those fixtures, with Newcastle aiming to qualify for the Champions League. With that in mind, it would be a huge boost to have Botman back.
In the meantime, it will be Fabian Schar and Dan Burn at centre-back – as it has been for most of the season. They have largely played well, particularly Burn, but there have been doubts over their form in recent weeks.