Newcastle United are facing a mounting injury crisis, with defender Sven Botman the latest player to be sidelined.
Just days before their Carabao Cup final, the Dutch centre-back has been advised to undergo knee surgery after seeing a specialist.
Botman Set for Knee Surgery
Botman’s situation took a turn for the worse after he consulted with a specialist on Tuesday.
The decision was made that surgery is necessary for his knee, although the full extent of his recovery time remains unclear.
Unfortunately, this means he will definitely miss the highly anticipated Wembley showdown with Liverpool on March 16, and there is a real possibility that his season could be over.
This setback adds to Newcastle’s growing injury woes, with Botman now joining the list of key players sidelined in recent days.
The Growing Injury List
In just a short span of time, manager Eddie Howe has seen three important players unavailable for crucial matches.
Anthony Gordon will be absent due to a suspension after his red card against Brighton last Sunday.
Meanwhile, Lewis Hall has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after suffering a foot injury.
But it’s Botman’s injury that stings the most for Newcastle, especially considering the centre-back’s long recovery from a previous ACL injury.
He had only returned in January after a 10-month absence, and now it seems he’s facing another significant setback.
A Hopeful Outlook, But Uncertain Future
While the knee issue affecting Botman is thought to be on his opposite leg, there is hope that it may not be as severe as his previous injury.
However, the need for surgery means Botman’s absence will be felt for the foreseeable future.
He has already missed the last five games, and although Newcastle were optimistic about his return in recent weeks, this latest setback confirms that his recovery is far from over.
For Howe and the team, this is a difficult blow to handle, especially with such an important final on the horizon.
As the club battles injuries, all eyes will be on how they can adjust their lineup for the upcoming matches without some of their star players.