Major Newcastle blow is actually great news for ‘fantastic’ £15m player – opinion

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When one door closes, another opens – and that could be the case following the injury to Newcastle United defender Sven Botman.

The Dutchman was forced off during the Magpies’ defeat to Liverpool on Sunday with an ankle problem. It looks like he has avoided a serious injury, but the 23-year-old is still expected to miss a couple of weeks of action.

With the upcoming international break, it is not the end of the world, but it does mean that Botman will miss this weekend’s trip to Brighton. Eddie Howe will therefore have to make one change to his starting XI, and the change should be an obvious one.

Change at centre-back due to Sven Botman injury

With Botman set to miss out, Howe will need someone else to play as the left-sided centre-back alongside Fabian Schar. That role will almost certainly go to Dan Burn, who moved into the middle when Botman was forced off against Liverpool.

Burn and Schar will have the chance to rekindle their partnership that worked so well during the second half of the 2021/22 Premier League season. And it will also create an opportunity for another man who was part of that back four.

Big chance for Matt Targett

Matt Targett has not been a regular starter for Newcastle for a long time, but that could soon change if he impresses during Botman’s absence.

The £15million man will most certainly take Burn’s place at left-back – unless Howe decides to throw Lewis Hall in at the deep end. However, that would be a huge surprise.

If Targett, who Howe thinks is ‘fantastic‘, can excel during his upcoming run in the team then he might be able to keep his place in the side long term. The opportunity has come at the perfect time for Targett, with the Champions League due to begin next month.

He is attracting interest from other Premier League clubs but Newcastle have said no, and the Magpies’ desire to keep Targett will only have intensified following Botman’s injury.