Eddie Howe welcomes back ‘new’ Newcastle United signing as illness hits Tottenham camp
Tottenham to be without key players this weekend
Eddie Howe acknowledges that Sven Botman will feel like a new signing as he returns to Newcastle United after a lengthy absence.
The Dutch defender has been sidelined since March due to an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury but is nearing his highly anticipated return.
Botman has been involved in behind-the-scenes training recently and, with Fabian Schar suspended for this weekend’s match against Tottenham Hotspur, he is now in contention to play.
When asked if Botman’s return would feel like welcoming a new signing, Howe agreed, saying, “It’s a cliché, but it’s a good one. It was similar with Sandro when he came back from his ban.
Although he had been training with us and had been with us for a season, his return felt like a new signing.
It gave the players a significant boost to have him available, and Sven will have the same impact.
He has been a key player for us and is well-liked by the team. The players have complete trust in him.”
Howe added that Botman’s return would lift the squad, giving everyone a positive feeling.
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When he comes back into the group, it’s a great morale boost,” Howe said.
“It’s a perfect way to view his return, like a new signing.”
Meanwhile, Tottenham’s manager, Ange Postecoglou, faces selection problems of his own after an illness spread through his camp.
Postecoglou was already preparing to face Newcastle without 10 first-team players, and now more could be unavailable due to illness.
Destiny Udogie is sidelined with a hamstring injury, and players such as Richarlison, Guglielmo Vicario, Ben Davies, Djed Spence, Wilson Odobert, Cristian Romero, and Micky van de Ven are also out.
Rodrigo Bentancur is suspended for the match.
Postecoglou commented, “Destiny has a hamstring injury, and he’s expected to be out for about six weeks.
We also lose Bentancur due to suspension, and none of the injured players are back yet.
We’ve had an illness bug going through the squad, so some players have missed training, but we’ll be okay.”
