SVEN BOTMAN has continued to step up his training programme in the last week or so, with the Newcastle United defender now a fortnight or so away from making a return to the first-team squad.

Botman has been sidelined since early March, when he suffered a cruciate-ligament injury that required surgery.

The Dutchman returned to training in the middle of last month, but Newcastle’s medical team have been taking things slowly as they gradually upped his workload.

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That process remains ongoing, with Botman not expected to feature in any of the Magpies’ next four games.

However, there is a chance he could return to the squad for the club’s final game of 2024 – the trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United on December 30 – or the opening game of 2025, which is the trip to Tottenham on January 4.

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Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe said: “Sven’s been training for a while. He’s been training consistently now for around four weeks.

“That was the plan. We are taking medical advice and trying to follow the right protocols for the injury that he’s had, to try to make sure we give him the best chance to stay fit.

“I think the plan is late December or early January, at the very earliest, that he will be available for the first team.”