Newcastle United centre-back Sven Botman will be out for about eight weeks because of another knee injury, says manager Eddie Howe.
Botman, 25, returned from a 10-month absence in January after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in March 2024, but has now injured his other knee.
The Netherlands international, who has been limited to just five appearances this season, has missed Newcastle’s past five matches with the new knee injury.
The issue requires an operation and will keep Botman out for about two months.
“We have been trying to get him back to full fitness, he was very close to the Brighton game [on 2 March] but the day before he felt something again in his knee,” said Howe.
“This week he has had the same discomfort so it looks like he will have to have an operation.
“He needs a small operation to clear out some fluid and then he should be fine again.”