Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe is hopeful Sven Botman is getting back to his very best now.
Botman has largely been an excellent signing for Newcastle United ever since he arrived from Lille in the summer of 2022.
Indeed, Botman’s £35million transfer fee has mostly looked like a bargain, albeit with one obvious caveat.
The sheer number of games he’s missed through injury are difficult to ignore. The Dutchman has been forced out of 59 games due to various issues during his time at the club.
Still, the 25-year-old has started the season well. While Botman is frustrated about his lack of game time at Newcastle, he’s slowly been growing back into a first-team role of late.
Howe, understandably, is excited.
- Who is Sven Botman? Get the lowdown on Newcastle United’s Dutch defensive dynamo
Eddie Howe very pleased with Sven Botman’s form
The Newcastle United manager talked of how impressed he has been with the former Lille star in recent games.
He admitted that he needed convincing Botman had fully come through the very worst of his ailments, perhaps explaining his relative lack of action.
Now, however, he’s confident the defender is getting back to his very best.
“Sven, for us, has been a magnificent player,” he said.
“You go back a couple of seasons and he’s part of the back four that was really, really resilient and solid.
“They formed a brilliant back four that was playing consistently at that time because we weren’t in the Champions League.
“I think everyone knows Sven’s qualities. The injury came at a bad time for him, he’s had to work his way back.
“Whenever you have a long-term injury, there is a period where you have to go through a training period for me, where you’ve tried to find your best form.
“There’s been some really promising signs in the last couple of games that we’re close to seeing him back to his very best and he’s a massive player for us.”
How good Newcastle United really think Sven Botman can be
The former Ajax youngster has just over two years left on his deal but Newcastle are open to giving Botman a new contract.
Clearly, much will depend on his ability to keep fit, but it would be wise to extend his stay on Tyneside. At his best, Botman is an incredibly difficult player to replace.
Indeed, those behind the scenes at the club have high hopes for Botman.
In fact, Howe thinks Botman could go on to become one of the best defenders the Premier League has ever seen.
It’s been a difficult road for Botman but, hopefully, things are on the up.
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