With the shocking news yesterday that Sven Botman has sustained an ACL knee injury, and will soon have surgery and be out for 6-9 months, Newcastle’s transfer strategy will shift in the summer to bringing in a center-back who can deputize for the Dutchman.

There has been heavy negative criticism of Newcastle’s medical staff in the past 24 hours with so many injuries this season, which is the worst we have seen at Newcastle for many years.

And now the impact of injuries will extend into next season.

Newcastle were thought to be after a left-back, a young center-back, and a striker in the summer, and now that center-back position will be prioritized with Botman probably out for the rest of the year.

The Dutchman first sustained the knee injury in late August, and the club elected a non-surgical recovery plan: the obvious conclusion is it was the wrong decision, and it mirrors other poor initial decisions on treatment like those of Jacob Murphy and others.

For the rest of the season, we will have Fabian Schar on the left-hand side of central defense and the reliable Jamaal Lascelles on the right.

Paul Dummett is also available, but Eddie Howe has hardly given the local lad a chance all season.

We also have Emil Krafth who can do a decent job at center-back or right-back.

Matt Targett is back from a long-term injury and he can hopefully battle Dan Burn for the left-back squad, and Lewis Hall, whose parents are Geordies, will likely get a chance before the end of the season.

Lewis looked good when brought on in the second half against Manchester City last weekend and we have to remember the lad is still only 19 years old.

So we have now extended our poor injury season into next season.

🙁

Who would have believed all these injuries would happen this season?

Comments welcome.