Newcastle United put in a solid defensive performance against Bournemouth to earn a point at the Vitality Stadium.
It has been a rather slow start to the season for the Magpies, with just three goals scored in their opening five league games. However, Eddie Howe is very pleased with how solid his team have been at the back.
Newcastle United kept their fourth clean sheet in five Premier League games thanks to their goalless draw against Bournemouth on Sunday, with the back-five holding off a Cherries side known for their quality in attack.
Howe handed first starts of the season to the likes of Malick Thiaw, Lewis Hall and Lewis Miley, while Sven Botman was brought into the fold to help add more stability at the back. His decision proved to be the right one, with Bournemouth only managing two efforts on target throughout the game.
Botman enjoyed a great game for Newcastle alongside Thiaw and Dan Burn, a performance which caught the eye of former Premier League player Troy Deeney.
- Who is Sven Botman? Get the lowdown on Newcastle United’s Dutch defensive dynamo
Troy Deeney praises Sven Botman’s performance against Bournemouth
Botman failed to come on during Newcastle’s defeat to Barcelona last week, with Thiaw taking Fabian Schar’s place after coming off with a concussion.
Recent reports suggested that Botman is not happy with his place in Newcastle’s pecking order, but with Schar out for the next couple of games, he has the chance to stake a claim for a regular place in the starting XI.
His performance against Bournemouth is certain to have done him a few favours, and Deeney recognised that when naming the Dutchman in his BBC Team of the Week.
“I was at Newcastle’s game against Barcelona and Botman looked frustrated and a bit disenfranchised when he didn’t come on.
“However, to get a start in the next game, play 90 minutes, and get a clean sheet with the amount of injuries he’s had was a massive show of character. He’s Newcastle’s best centre-half, he just struggles to stay fit.”
- READ MORE – Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer in total agreement over ‘ludicrous’ decision, it almost cost Newcastle United
Sven Botman still has a big part to play in Newcastle United’s future
It finally looks like Botman is getting back to the player he was during the 2022/23 campaign before his injuries. It has been a tough two years for the Dutchman, who has been forced to watch on from the sidelines due to persistent knee issues, which kept him out for almost a year.
While he lost his place in the starting XI to Burn and Schar last season, the 2025/26 campaign feels like a fresh start for him, where he can earn his spot back and keep it permanently.
Newcastle want to give Botman a new contract, with his current deal running out at the end of next season. His performances so far this term have shown why Howe is so keen to tie the defender down long-term, especially after missing him for so long.
Botman is still only 25. He has so much more to give in his career after a lively start. Let’s hope that his injury problems are past him now and he can kick on for the rest of the season.
Burn and Schar are not getting younger, so now is the time for him to prove why he deserves to be part of the club’s back line for the next several years.
Receive a digest of our best Newcastle content each week direct to your mailbox
