Newcastle United's season-ending injury prompts new inquiries; it is the team's 33rd injury of 2023

Injuries are the best way to describe Newcastle United’s 2023–24 campaign.

After a 5-1 victory over Aston Villa on the first day of the season in August, the season has gradually been undermined by injury blow after injury blow.

With Sven Botman’s second ruptured ACL in six months, the Magpies will only break this record at the end of the season. This season, the Magpies have sustained more injuries and lost more days due to injury than any other Premier League team. The Dutchman will need knee surgery and won’t be able to play again until late 2024, despite his best efforts to postpone surgery following a similar injury to the same knee back in September.

In many respects, this injury has summed up Newcastle’s season. It also raises the question of whether there is a deeper reason behind it or it’s just bad luck.

Six to nine months are Sven Botman’s absence.

Naturally, there is a want to assign blame and hold people accountable. Eddie Howe has acknowledged that errors have been made this season in the diagnosis and treatment of injuries, and Botman’s knee is no exception. However, Newcastle United must take greater ownership of the matter and show greater resolve in handling injuries.

The athlete, coaching staff, and medical team must collaborate to determine the best course of action that puts the player’s wellbeing first.

However, this season, Botman’s knee has caused a great deal of uncertainty and discussion. The defender tore his ACL back in September, yet he was still able to participate in two games. The Dutchman is still unsure as to whether or not he totally tore the ligament.

The knee issue was unclear at the time, as Howe’s usually evasive update about Botman’s potential return to play suggested it might just be a matter of weeks.

Howe stated back in October, “Hopefully it won’t be too long, but he won’t be fit for the next couple of weeks.” Soon after, the athlete was given the option to have surgery, but eventually declined.

It would take until after Christmas for Botman to be back in Newcastle’s starting lineup. Since his comeback, the 24-year-old has started all 10 of Newcastle’s Premier League games; nonetheless, he has frequently appeared to be a shadow of the self-assured and strong center-back from his debut season on Tyneside.

Botman claimed he was returning to his best, but it was obvious that the repercussions of his first knee injury were having an impact on him. Furthermore, Botman’s season was prematurely ended when he sustained a new ACL injury to the same knee during Newcastle’s most recent 2-0 loss to Manchester City.

It fits with the story of Newcastle’s season, which has been characterized by long-term injuries to important players.

The ‘freak’ injury journal for Newcastle United
To say that Sven Botman suffered two ACL injuries in the same season due to a misdiagnosis of the first injury is hardly even close to summarising Newcastle’s experiences this season.

After suffering a “freak” foot ailment that sidelined him for four months, Harvey Barnes, a winger, has recently developed a hamstring problem. Again, surgery was discussed but ultimately decided against.

Within ten days, Jacob Murphy dislocated his shoulder twice, necessitating surgery that would keep him out of commission for more than two months.

Dan Burn suffered a back fracture and was compelled to return weeks ahead of schedule to support the side. After missing three months due to the same Achilles injury, Joe Willock returned for a brief period of time but has barely played this season. He also had hamstring and Achilles injuries.

Due to a leg length disparity, Elliot Anderson had a stress fracture in his back, which kept him out of action for four months. Leading scorer Alexander Isak has already experienced this season’s groin ailment twice.

Midfielder Sean Longstaff has been playing through a foot ailment since the beginning of the season, according to information just disclosed by Eddie Howe. Furthermore, important players like Nick Pope, Joelinton, and Callum Wilson are all in the middle of lengthy absences off the field.