Eddie Howe says that Newcastle star is now sending a message, it’s a ‘real reminder’

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Sven Botman is reminding onlookers about just how good he really is, according to Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe. 

Botman appears to have finally shaken off a series of injury problems to establish himself as a leading Newcastle United star. 

The Dutchman is forming an impressive partnership with Malick Thiaw at the heart of Howe’s defence and, even with the rotation policy in mind, is arguably starting to look like one of the first names on the team sheet. 

It has been a long road for Botman. Brilliant in his first season at St James’ Park, he’s since suffered a serious knee injury and subsequently broken down after almost every comeback. 

Now, however, he’s back to something approaching his best and Howe was full of praise. 

• Who is Sven Botman? Get the lowdown on Newcastle United’s Dutch defensive dynamo

Eddie Howe praises Sven Botman  

The Newcastle United manager was asked about the former Lille star during Friday’s press conference, which looked ahead to Sunday’s Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest. 

Howe talked of the qualities both Thiaw and Fabian Schar also bring to the defensive unit, while Dan Burn’s excellent form this season is also worth a mention.

Of Botman, however, the Toon boss was glowing.

“Seeing Sven playing the way that he has is a real reminder, not that I needed reminding, but a reminder to everybody of his qualities and how big a player he is for us and how much we’ve missed him,” he said. 

“Because we’ve been without him for a long, long time.”

Sven Botman won’t be frustrated at Newcastle United for much longer

Up until recently, the 25-year-old wasn’t getting much in the way of game time.

As such, Botman was frustrated about being on the bench for Newcastle.  

That is certainly understandable given his quality, but nothing Schar nor Burn did at the start of the campaign warranted them being dropped.

Still, with Botman now back at his best, it’s difficult to imagine him coming out of the team.

The defender hasn’t been called up to the Netherlands squad, so presumably does not need that much of a rest heading into the break in domestic football after the Forest game.