Newcastle United tried and failed to get Sven Botman up and running to face Brighton & Hove Albion. However, the Dutchman failed a late fitness test meaning Eddie Howe's defensive line-up almost picked itself in the centre with Fabian Schar and Dan Burn forming their partnership at the heart of defence. Lewis Hall's worrying ankle injury also meant a rejig with the full-backs as Tino Livramento and Kieran Trippier lined up either side of Burn and Schar.

The 25-year-old last appeared in the Carabao Cup semi-final win over Arsenal when he went off with knee issues and has not been seen since despite being described as "close" in the last couple of games.

Botman now has just two weeks to try to get close to match fitness with one Premier League game remaining before the Carabao Cup final encounter against Liverpool at Wembley. With Anthony Gordon likely to be banned, getting the spine of the team right is going to be absolutely vital for Howe.

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The return of the ex-Ajax youngster will be huge for the Magpies but could also have implications in terms of selection. Whether Howe goes for the less controversial route in terms of his cup final team and plays a five-man defence with Schar, Burn and Botman remains to be seen.

Botman will be desperate to feature at West Ham next Monday but was ruled out by medics in the build-up to Sunday's FA Cup tie at St James' Park. When asked about Botman, Howe said: "We had a small squad, we couldn't get Sven [Botman] fit and we can't afford to lose anyone else.

"So, we decided not to risk him. We still hope that he can play a part either in our next game or the game after. We’re desperate to get him back fit because he’s such a big player, but we couldn’t take the risk with him if he wasn’t 100 per cent fit."

The loss of Hall for the final would be a major blow but the fact Newcastle have a threadbare squad is starting to be glaringly obvious. United submitted a 24-man squad to the Premier League last month which contained five goalkeepers and two long-term injured players in Jamal Lewis and Jamaal Lascelles.

With Hall and Botman injury doubts for Wembley plus Gordon suspended, players are now looking thin on the ground for the manager. Howe tried to paint a positive after the game and said: "If Anthony is missing the game, then of course that would be a big blow to us. But as always, when someone suffers a misfortune in that way, it’s someone else’s opportunity. That’s what we have a squad for, and that’s what we have very good players for.

"We have to look at it that way, and I’m sure Anthony would want us to look at it that way. I’m sure, in his absence, he would want us to carry on, be really strong and try to win the game."

One positive was that Alexander Isak has not suffered a new injury despite coming off when Newcastle were fighting for a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals. Howe said: "Alex just felt a bit of general tightness. I don’t think it was an injury, it was just general tightness, but we felt as though he had to come off."