Eddie Howe has indicated that Sven Botman is ‘ready’ to make his Premier League debut during Newcastle United’s meeting with newly-promoted Nottingham Forest at St James’ Park, speaking to The Chronicle.
After so many months of sustained speculation, a will-he-won’t-he-saga that dominated the narrative on Tyneside and made more headlines than a toxic Hollywood romance, will Botman be worth the wait?
Newcastle’s new £35 million central defender looks set to be unveiled to the Magpies masses on Saturday afternoon. Play-off winners Nottingham Forest are the visitors this weekend.
And while Botman may take a while to get used to life on English shores, Howe clearly has no concerns about throwing the 2021 Ligue 1 champion in at the deep end.
“I think he’s ready to play,” Howe says. “I’ve seen him during pre-season and what a talent he is.
“I think he’s going to be everything we hoped he would be. He’s technically very good, very strong and very good defensively.”
Will Sven Botman start vs Nottingham Forest at St James’ Park?
The most expensive of Newcastle’s three summer arrivals so far, Botman won’t have it easy against Forest. Not with the broad-shouldered powerhouse that is Taiwo Awoniyi likely to lead the line for Steve Cooper’s visitors.
Only five players in the Bundesliga scored more than him last season after all; Robert Lewandowski, Erling Haaland, Patrik Schick, Anthony Modeste and Christopher Nkunku.
“Sven has settled in straight away,” Newcastle team-mate Kieran Trippier told Sky of the Dutch international a couple of weeks ago, during the club’s pre-season tour.
“The way he plays and the way he commands the ball…”
Nick Pope should also make his Newcastle debut against Nottingham Forest. Saturday’s opener could come too soon for Jonjo Shelvey, however. Jamal Lewis, Federico Fernandez and Javier Manquillo are also unavailable for the time being.
“Jonjo Shelvey is in London tonight for another assessment so we are unsure on him. We’re not too bad apart from him,” Howe adds.
“Jamal Lewis and Federico Fernandez are nearly back. Javier Manquillo is back training.”
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