'Conflicting reports': Eddie Howe lifts the lid on what's happened to Sven Botman this season

Eddie Howe faced the media this morning ahead of Newcastle United's clash with West Ham United at St James' park on Saturday lunchtime - Kick-off 12:30pm live on TNT Sport.

With the news coming out just before the international break, this was the first time Howe has faced the media since it was revealed that Sven Botman would undergo surgery on his ACL which could keep him out of action until the new year.

It was a devastating blow, but not really a surprise to fans as they could see that Botman was never anywhere near 100% when he returned to action following his lengthy layoff at the start of the season after picking up a knee injury.

In fact, the news was met more with anger than shock as fans felt that the situation should have been handled better in the first instance.

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Eddie Howe has shared what happened with Sven Botman earlier this season

Now Eddie Howe has opened up on what went on and why Botman didn't have the surgery when the issue first appeared. (via The Chronicle)

"We sought specialist opinion on that injury [initial knee injury] and there were conflicting reports coming back on what he should do next. Ultimately, our medical team advised him to have surgery. He wanted to carry on playing and we're always trying to guide the players, but ultimately it's their bodies and they have to make the final decision. Unfortunately, he succumbed to the injury eventually."

So it turns out it was Botman being stubborn and rejecting the advice to get the surgery in an attempt to be a hero.

Sven Botman wanted to be the hero and wound up the villain

While we can understand the desire to play on and help the team, surely there had to be someone who could have explained to him how likely it would be that we'd end up in this exact scenario.

Instead, Botman came back from injury not fully fit, played like crap and now won't be able to play again all year. Not the smartest move.

Now Newcastle will have to go all-out on defenders in the summer transfer window when there were other positions that were a bigger priority.

We're not mad. We're just disappointed.