Newcastle United defender Sven Botman has now commented for the first time after the club announced he has suffered an ACL injury.
He was forced off with a ‘knock’ during the Magpies’ FA Cup defeat to Manchester City on Saturday, but it appears that the injury is more than just a knock.
Newcastle United announced on Wednesday evening that Sven Botman has suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury. It will rule him out for between six and nine months. The worst case scenario would see him return to action at the beginning of 2025.
It is yet another injury blow for Newcastle, but fans will feel as though this one could have been avoided. Botman suffered an ACL injury last year, but decided to rehab it rather than undergo surgery.
That decision has now proven to be a mistake, with the Dutchman set to go under the knife and miss at least half a year of his career.
Sven Botman posts heartfelt message on Instagram
Fans are absolutely devastated for Botman, and he has now commented on the injury for the first time after the announcement.
He took to his official Instagram account to send a message to supporters, vowing to come back stronger.
He wrote: “It is difficult to accept that surgery is out of the question, after fighting so hard to avoid this step. The support and love I have already received means a lot to me. I won’t be able to do what I love the most for a while, but after my knee problems recently, I know I will come out of this period as a better player. My team Newcastle United remain the most important and I will continue to support you every day. We are family.”
Sven Botman has not been the same for Newcastle
It has been clear for a long time that Botman was not quite right. Fans have been very concerned by his recent form, while pundits have questioned whether he has been at his best.
Gary Neville was critical of Botman during Newcastle’s defeat to Chelsea, while Alan Shearer admitted that the centre-back was not quite right following the FA Cup loss to Manchester City.
He has really struggled to re-find the form he showed last season after recovering from the previous knee injury, and is now going to be out of action for even longer.
Botman injury may force Newcastle to change transfer plans
It is a massive blow for Newcastle United, and one that could realign their summer transfer plans.
The club were already set to be in the market for a centre-back, but it likely would have been a right-sided player – someone who could feature alongside Botman. But now Newcastle might need to look for someone who can operate as the left-sided centre-back, or they may even have to buy two central defenders.
This could have a huge knock on effect on Newcastle’s summer plans, at a time when finances are stretched due to the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules.
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