The five Newcastle United stars who showed up to support Sven Botman on his return from injury

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Newcastle United defender Sven Botman played his first minutes after a lengthy injury layoff on Monday.

Sven Botman has been missing from Newcastle’s first team squad since March after suffering an ACL injury in the Magpies FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester City.

The Dutchman has been on the road to recovery since then. In recent press conferences, Eddie Howe has been providing consistent updates on how Botman is doing with his return sure to help add some much-needed comfort to the Magpies’ back line.

In another big step, Botman played 60 minutes with Newcastle’s under-21s on Monday alongside young midfielder Lewis Miley who is also working on his fitness following injury.

The game caught the eye of many fans at Whitley Park but it was Newcastle’s key figures who took those in attendance by surprise.

Sven Botman was watched by Newcastle United players and staff on Monday

Newcastle’s under-21s breezed to a 3-2 win against Chelsea’s youth side on Monday with Botman keeping a clean sheet and making a gutsy-headed intervention during his time on the pitch.

In the stands were Toon boss Howe, his assistant Jason Tindall and Newcastle’s performance director James Bunce who would have worked closely with Botman in his quest for full fitness.

The Newcastle figures in attendance don’t stop there however with five players also braving the cold to see their teammates return.

Sean Longstaff, Anthony Gordon, Jamaal Lascelles, Alexander Isak and Lewis Hall were all in attendance on Monday to support Botman on his return to football. The act by these players, albeit a small one shows how much of a tight-knit group Howe has created with his squad when the attitude of his Newcastle squad has been questioned.

When will Sven Botman return to Newcastle United’s first team?

Howe is yet to put an exact date on Botman’s return to the first team with ACL injuries usually keeping players out for six to nine months meaning Botman is due to come back in December.

In recent press conferences, Howe has been asked about when Newcastle should see him return. Howe has confirmed that Newcastle will have Botman back in late December or early January.

It puts him in line with a return away to Manchester United on December 30th or the visit to Tottenham Hotspur on January 4th.

The Magpies are also without Jamaal Lascelles with a similar injury. Newcastle will also be loaning out Alex Murphy in January so Botman’s return is a welcome one for Howe and co.