'I've got a decision to make': Eddie Howe talks about prospect of Sven Botman returning to face Spurs

After nine months out after having surgery on an ACL injury, Sven Botman is finally back in contention to return to action for Newcastle United.

Botman has kept fans titillated throughout his recovery process with updates on social media that some fans were hoping meant his return was imminent.

Thankfully, James Bunce has ensured that the club is taking its time when it comes to players returning from injury after the club suffered so many recurring injuries last term.

It has been a painful wait for both fans and of course, the player himself, but after coming through a couple of reserve matches, Botman has declared himself fit and ready.

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Eddie Howe will not rush Sven Botman back unless he feels he's ready

Eddie Howe was a bit less enthusiastic in his terminology when speaking to the media this morning (via The Chronicle) but he has admitted that Botman is there or thereabouts.

"I always said with Sven he'd be in and around the Xmas games. He's worked incredibly hard to get himself in a good condition. A lot of internal training, some match stimulus. He's in and around my thoughts. I'll have to make a decision who best fits that position.

"You go through a process with his injury. He's done an incredible amount of work. We've taken longer than normally we would have done out of respect for the injury he had.

"I've got a decision to make in terms of team selection but if Sven is in the squad it's because he's ready."

We expect to see Sven Botman named on the bench tomorrow

While we expect Dan Burn will move over to the right side of defence to make way for whoever comes in to replace the suspended Fabian Schar, we believe it's more likely to be Lloyd Kelly who comes in from the start with Botman on the bench.

Eddie Howe likes a substitution on or around the hour mark, and if the scoreline demands or allows it, that's when we expect to see Botman come onto the pitch.

If Newcastle are under constant bombardment but holding up well, then he may just have to ride it out in the comfy seats as it may be a bit too intense to put him in for his first game back. Let's hope that won't be the case, though. For many reasons.