Journalist Pete O’Rourke believes Sven Botman will be growing ‘slightly concerned’ with his role in the Newcastle side.
His comments come off the back of Eddie Howe’s decision to drop the towering 6 ft 4 Dutch defender in favour of Dan Burn against Bournemouth in the latest fixture.
Having regained his place at home to Crystal Palace, Botman was reduced to the bench meaning he has started just four of the first seven fixtures despite his £35m summer arrival from Lille.
The 22-year-old described it as the ‘best day’ of his life when he signed the dotted line and that he was ‘very excited’ about a fresh challenge.
However, his Magpies manager has suggested that leadership skills and experience have Burn ahead of Botman in the pecking order.
Now O’Rourke has claimed that the 12-cap Netherlands U21 international will be worried about his playing role.
He told GIVEMESPORT: “I’m sure he’ll be slightly concerned. No player doesn’t want to be playing games.
“Obviously he came with a big reputation when Newcastle signed him in the summer. They beat a number of top clubs to his signature. So he will obviously not be happy that he’s not playing in Eddie Howe’s team right now as well.”
The Toon originally tried to sign Botman in January before moving again in the summer window, fending off competition from Serie A champions AC Milan to secure his signature.
However, Howe did suggest that although he was ‘delighted’ with the arrival of the £18k-per-week gem, the starlet would have to ‘grow with the team’, perhaps hinting that it would take time to settle in.
Nonetheless, the youngster has left camp on international duty with the Dutch U21s much to the chagrin of his national coaches (Voetbal International), but it could well put him in a position to return to the Mags’ line-up at Fulham.
