Newcastle United are going to be without Sven Botman for a long time, which means that Eddie Howe’s other defenders are going to have to step up.
The 24-year-old is going to be out of action for at least the next six months with an ACL injury, but could be injured for up to nine months.
It is another devastating injury blow for Newcastle United, who are now figuring out how they are going to cope without Sven Botman – at least for the last 10 Premier League games.
The most likely solution is that Jamaal Lascelles comes into the team. He did exactly that during Botman’s first knee injury last year, and his performances were described as ‘unbelievable’ by Dan Burn. Lascelles really was exceptional, while Fabian Schar also did a great job as the left-sided centre-back.
That will likely be the combination that Eddie Howe goes with, but he does have a youngster in his ranks who could provide an alternative.
Alex Murphy is with the Newcastle first-team right now
If Howe wants to look towards the future, Alex Murphy could be an option. The 19-year-old defender joined the Magpies in the summer of 2022, and has really impressed since his arrival from Galway United.
The teenager is considered part of Howe’s first-team plans, and that is proven by the fact he is currently in Dubai with the rest of the Newcastle United squad for some mid-season warm weather training.
Training with the first-team will really help Murphy’s development, while it could also open Howe up to the possibility of giving the youngster some minutes. It could be an ideal opportunity in the remaining games of the season, depending on what is at stake for Newcastle.
Newcastle staff have likened Murphy to Sven Botman
And it is an even more intriguing opportunity given how Toon staff feel about Murphy. It was reported by the Athletic last year that they think he has similar attributes to Botman.
So, Murphy is similar in style to Botman, who Newcastle are suddenly without due to injury. Whether or not that results in the Irishman getting more minutes remains to be seen, but it is a great chance for Howe to put the teenager’s qualities to the test.
It is just a shame that so much is riding on Newcastle’s final 10 games. They desperately need to qualify for Europe, and throwing in a kid who has played just once in the Premier League would be viewed as a monumental risk.
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