SVEN BOTMAN’S recovery from knee-ligament surgery remains on track, but the defender will not be back in full training until after the next international break.
Botman has been sidelined since damaging his knee ligaments in March, and has spent the last seven months recuperating following surgery.
The Dutchman has been slowly building up his fitness work, and has posted a series of pictures and videos to social media charting his progress.
His recovery remains on schedule, but while his updates had led to hopes that he might be able to join in with first-team training sessions in the next month or so, that will not be the case.
It is hoped he will be able to take part in group training sessions after the November international break, potentially paving the way for a return to competitive first-team action before the end of the year.
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“We won’t see him (Botman) before the next international break,” said Magpies head coach Eddie Howe. “We’re looking beyond that.
“But he’s hitting the right strength markers and looking really good. We haven’t seen him in training yet, and we probably won’t see him until after the next international break. But he is closing in.
“It is a long road. I know everyone wants news – we want him back and he wants to be back. But it’s got to be at the right time. The reality is that we’re probably looking more towards Christmas time.”
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