"I can say I'm really pleased with Sven and Malick, I think they've done very, very well together. I thought they could play together, but you need to see it work. But it doesn't mean anything other than the fact that they've done very well to this point. I was really down (when he tore his ACL) because we'd lost an outstanding player, character, person, but distributor of the ball. Short and long range, he brought the other side of the pitch into play a lot when we were under pressure and we lost that from our game."
"And that was a huge blow. Not only that, he's a man-mountain. He's a physical beast which, in this league, you need. I thought we catered really well with his absence. I thought Dan Burn in particular was absolutely magnificent but Sven's got qualities that Dan doesn't have and vice versa. They're both very different players. It's great to see them now on the same team, still contributing in the way that they are. Sven can hopefully, from this moment, still improve and get back to his very, very highest levels because there aren't many I'd look to swap him with if he's at his best."
Newcastle have struggled early in the season but have displayed strong defensive form, securing six clean sheets in ten matches. Sven Botman has been central to that defensive improvement after returning to the starting lineup. Botman impressed in his first season following a 2022 move from Lille but suffered an ACL tear and subsequent injury problems. His partnership with Malick has added composure and ball distribution at short and long range while complementing Dan Burn's different qualities. Eddie Howe highlights Botman's physical presence, character, and distribution, and expects further progress back toward his highest level.
Read at www.caughtoffside.com
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