Sven Botman injury update: Could Newcastle defender make long-awaited return against Tottenham?

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has delivered an update connected the fittingness of defender Sven Botman up of Saturday's Premier League clash with Tottenham Hotspur.

Botman has not played for the Magpies since suffering an ACL wounded successful March past twelvemonth against Manchester City, and since undergoing country has been moving his mode backmost to afloat fitness.

The 24-year-old returned to afloat squad grooming past period and played for 60 minutes successful an Under-21s fixture against Chelsea connected December 16 - his archetypal quality successful 9 months.

Ahead of this weekend's travel to North London, Howe has revealed that Botman is successful contention to marque his long-awaited first-team instrumentality and is adjacent "in and astir my thoughts" to start.

Newcastle volition beryllium without Fabian Schar who is serving the archetypal of a two-match suspension, portion some Emil Krafth and Jamaal Lascelles stay sidelined with respective enarthrosis and genu injuries.

One of Botman oregon Lloyd Kelly is truthful expected to commencement successful cardinal defence alongside Dan Burn; a commencement for Kelly would spot Howe prime 2 left-footed defenders, portion a commencement for right-footed Botman would supply a greater equilibrium to his backline.

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Botman successful contention to commencement for Newcastle vs. Spurs

Speaking astir Botman astatine a property league connected Friday, Howe said: "I ever said Sven volition beryllium successful and astir the Christmas games. He has worked incredibly hard to get himself into a bully condition. He has had 3 games, helium is successful and astir my thoughts.

"I volition person to marque a determination connected who champion fits that position, but it is large to person Sven backmost around. If Sven is successful the squad, it is due to the fact that helium is acceptable and ready."

Asked if helium would beryllium disquieted astir throwing Botman consecutive backmost into the starting lineup, Howe added: "No, you spell done a process with the benignant of wounded that Sven has had, he's done an unthinkable magnitude of work. It's not similar helium hasn't had the grooming clip with us.

"We've taken possibly longer than we would person done with respect for wounded he's had and truthful helium hits the crushed running. I've got a determination to marque successful presumption of squad enactment but, if Sven's successful the squad, it's due to the fact that he's acceptable and available."

On Kelly and his deficiency of first-team opportunities since joining from Bournemouth successful the summer, Howe said: "They person [been limited] but that's down to the signifier of the lads who has played. He's a versatile subordinate who tin play successful a batch of positions.

"The signifier of Dan and Fab successful the bosom of defence has been strong, particularly recently. I similar to support a settled backmost 4 and not alteration excessively much. I deliberation that country of the transportation is astir gathering relationships. Lloyd is grooming hard, grooming good and he's waiting for his chance."

Newcastle, who are inactive coping without Nick Pope (knee) and Callum Wilson (thigh) arsenic good arsenic Schar, Krafth and Lascelles, presently beryllium 5th successful the Premier League table and are bidding to triumph their 5th consecutive match.

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