Howe fears Botman is out for the long term

NEWCASTLE boss Eddie Howe has been hit with a fresh injury blow after revealing Dutch defender Sven Botman could join his list of ‘longer-term’ absentees. The 23-year-old has not featured since picking up a knee injury at the end of September, and although the problem was initially not thought to be serious, there is now no return date. ‘Botman is unclear at the moment,’ said Howe. ‘So we are going day by day. There’s an issue there and we’re working through various options to try to diagnose the problem.’

Could he be missing ‘longterm’? ‘Perhaps,’ said Howe. The Magpies are without six senior players ahead of tonight’s trip to Manchester United in the Carabao Cup. Mail Sport revealed last week that striker Alexander Isak will be missing until after the November international break after suffering a recurrence of a groin injury. That leaves Callum Wilson as the only frontman, and he is unlikely to play three games in a week given the need to manage his load. Anthony Gordon looks set to fill in. ‘That was one of the reasons for signing Anthony, who can play as a centre forward, which he did for England at the Under 21 Euros and did a great job,’ said Howe. ‘There are others — Harvey Barnes can play up there, although we don’t have him at the moment. And

Joelinton was also signed as a centre forward.’

Did Howe and the hierarchy consider the effects of losing Isak or Wilson when planning their summer transfer business? ‘You’re sort of alluding to signing a third striker,’ Howe said. ‘We just didn’t have the resources to do that.’ Meanwhile, Newcastle are awaiting clarity on whether Italian midfielder Sandro Tonali, who is banned for gambling on football, can still train with the group.