SVEN BOTMAN delivered Eddie Howe some positive news – even though he is almost 6,000 miles away.
Newcastle beat Urawa Reds 4-1 in the first game of their Japan tour on Wednesday and will face Yokohama FM on Saturday.
Dutch centre-half Botman, 24, has not travelled with his team-mates as he continues his rehabilitation from the knee injury he suffered in March.
That was the second problem he had with his knee last term and it forced him to miss 29 games in all competitions.
He underwent surgery in order to rectify the issue and the initial prognosis was that he would be out for the remainder of 2024.
Just last week Botman shared footage of himself working in the gym and then with a ball at his feet as fans started to speculate that he looked to be ahead of schedule in his recovery.
Fans are still in the dark as to when exactly they can expect the star, who cost £39m from Lille two years ago, will be back in the famous black and white shirt.
Now Botman has teased them again and ramped up the excitement for his return with another message on his Instagram account on Thursday.
He posted a photo on his story of a pitch at Toon’s training ground alongside a caption that read: “Getting closer, back at it.”
Botman’s positive progress will be a welcome sight for Howe as he looks to get him back as his left-sided centre-back.
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Lloyd Kelly, 25, has joined on a free after his contract at Bournemouth expired to bolster the centre-half ranks.
But Howe and Newcastle’s new sporting director Paul Mitchell are continuing their recruitment drive for more reinforcements while in the Far East.
AC Milan’s Malick Thiaw is the top contender to arrive – despite his agent dismissing claims terms had been agreed for a move to Toon.
But Howe admitted his admiration for the 22-year-old German ace for the first time publicly this week when asked about a potential deal for him.
He said: “There are no updates on that… I’m always reluctant to comment on these things.
“But he is a player I know about. Of course I do, from our games in the Champions League against Milan.
“He is a very good player but that is it.”
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