Paul Merson says ‘brilliant’ Newcastle defender has impressed him this season

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Paul Merson has made his selection for his Team Of The Season and has included Newcastle United’s Sven Botman in the defence.

Newcastle’s defence this season has shocked everybody. The Magpies have never been known for the defensive capabilities, regardless of who has been in charge, but now Eddie Howe has found a back line that for a long time was impenetrable.

That’s not gone unnoticed by Paul Merson who selected Sven Botman and Kieran Trippier in his Team of the Season. Writing in his column for GiveMeSport, Merson hailed Trippier’s leadership qualities, calling him an ‘unbelievable professional.’

Paul Merson says Botman makes players around him even better

However, the praise he lavished on Sven Botman was even greater. On why he selected the £35million signing from Lille, Merson said: “He’s been absolutely outstanding. For him to come in to a new country and a new league and do what he’s done, has been brilliant. He has made the players around him better. He defends so well. Newcastle don’t give you a sniff any more and he marshals that back four in my opinion.”

He has definitely made Fabian Schar better, or at least helped him regain his confidence. The Swiss international looked destined for the exit at St James’ Park before he forged an outstanding partnership with “Rolls Royce” Botman.

Newcastle pursued the Dutch centre-back for a long time and there were a lot of on-again-off-again stories in the summer, with it looking at one point that Newcastle had missed out and Botman was heading to Milan.

Fortunately, that wasn’t the case and Newcastle finally bagged their number one priority target, and what a signing he turned out to be.

Botman showed straight away that he was Premier League ready

Botman was forced into the starting lineup earlier than Howe had maybe planned due to an injury to Matt Targett, but it was immediately clear that he was ready for the Premier League. A hulking presence at the back, cool, calm and collected. In his first six or so games he never lost a single aerial duel. The man is a monster.

The best part is, he’s only 23 and in defender years, he’s just a baby. He still has plenty more to learn and more room to improve. Botman has always said that Virgil Van Dijk is his idol while downplaying his ability, claiming he’s a long way off his level. I think Newcastle fans would disagree.

The fact that he’s yet to make a senior appearance for the Netherlands national side is a travesty, although he was recently called up but ended up having to withdraw after picking up a bug.

Sven Botman should be in everyone’s Team of the Season, and if he’s not, then they simply haven’t been paying attention.