Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe admits he’s been ‘surprised’ by Sven Botman’s technical ability since bringing the former Lille defender to the Premier League over the summer, speaking to The Chronicle.
When you consider that Botman honed his talents in Ajax’s feted finishing school, it’s perhaps no surprise that the Dutch international is as impressive with the ball at his feet as he is without it.
Botman has caught the eye not just with his expert positional sense but also with his passing range since completing that long-awaited £35 million move to St James’ Park in July; breaking the lines with his piercing left boot.
“My faith in him is huge,” Howe says in the build up to Newcastle’s home clash with Everton on Wednesday.
“We really fought to sign him and we stuck to our guns because he was the one we wanted. I see so much potential in his game. He’s very good on the ball. But he’s surprised me with how good his technical delivery has been.”
Newcastle United face Everton in midweek
Botman stood tall during Newcastle’s hard-fought goalless draw with Manchester United on Sunday afternoon. In total, the Magpies have kept clean sheets in three of the 22-year-old’s seven Premier League starts thus far. Newcastle are also the only team in the division to have kept the ‘goals conceded’ column in single figures thus far.
“It’s very pleasing,” Howe adds, before acknowledging that an excellent defensive record is likely to be tested by an Everton side hoping to welcome Dominic Calvert-Lewin back into the starting XI this week.
“It’s a compliment to the players and their mentality to defending. We want to defend as a team; from the striker back to the goalkeeper, and you can see that when we play. The collective ambition is to be good in and out of position.
“(Everton have) made progress. The games we had against them last season were very tight, so we anticipate a similar test. They’ve recruited well and have a very physical side. They’ll be a threat in transition and on set pieces but we back ourselves at home.”
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