When Newcastle United last met Bournemouth, in the Premier League, Sven Botman could not even get on the pitch. Eddie Howe even highlighted Dan Burn's 'leadership skills and experience' when the Magpies boss explained his decision to effectively drop the defender back in September.
However, 94 days on, the Dutchman was one of the first names on the team sheet against the same opposition - and with good reason following his display in the Magpies' last 16 win on Tuesday night. Botman made more interceptions than any other Newcastle player, including one crucial intervention to cut out Philip Billing's cross to Solanke late on. Botman also won two-thirds of his aerial duels and lost possession on just a couple of occasions. To put that final figure into perspective, late substitutes Chris Wood and Jonjo Shelvey, who admittedly play further forward, also lost the ball twice despite being on the field for a shorter period of time.
On the ball, six of Botman's seven long passes found a team-mate and a whopping 96% of the defender's passes were accurate, which was the best return of any starter on the field. These were not just Hollywood passes, either.
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When urged to shoot in space from 35 yards by the crowd before half-time, Botman calmly took a touch before squaring the ball to Dan Burn in the run up to the left-back creating a glorious opportunity for Almiron. Similarly, when Joelinton passed the ball to the unmarked Botman deep in Bournemouth's half midway through the second half, the 22-year-old again opted for a short pass - this time to Bruno Guimaraes - in the build-up to Adam Smith's own goal.
You would not have thought the composed Botman was still so young or, indeed, that he has only previously played 15 games in England up to this point. This was a mature performance that unsurprisingly delighted Howe.
“He was excellent against the aerial presence of Kieffer Moore and Dominic Solanke," the Newcastle boss told reporters. "Bournemouth went very direct at times, especially in the second half, and I thought that was Sven's best game for us aerially.
“He was dominant, he was physically very good. His use of the ball has been excellent, but he's really come on in other areas of his game as well, so it was a really good night for him."
Newcastle, remarkably, have yet to lose a game Botman has featured in. In fact, since the Dutchman became a regular starter, in October, the Magpies have won nine matches in all competitions (drawing the other fixture). Newcastle have also kept six clean sheets during that run and only conceded four goals.
On the subject of shutouts, as impressive as Botman's defending has been, what has really caught the eye is the 22-year-old's mentality. Botman is obsessed with clean sheets and reacted furiously by throwing his arms up in the air when Newcastle conceded late goals at Fulham and Southampton. Newcastle may have been 4-0 up and 3-0 ahead respectively at the time, but that's how high Botman's standards are.
You can see why even the measured Howe feels that Botman has 'the tools' to be as good as any other centre-back in Premier League history. The club were always confident Botman could handle the step up, but the summer signing has coped with the pace and physicality of the top-flight expertly.
Most encouragingly, when Botman was out of the team earlier this season, the summer arrival did not sulk. In fact, the proud Dutchman turned down an international call-up with the Netherlands' under-21s' side to, in Howe's words, 'continue his learning and development'.
Botman impressed in training during that international break and, tellingly, has been in the team ever since, with Burn shifting to left-back to accommodate his popular team-mate. In the form he is in, Botman certainly won't be coming out of the team again anytime soon.
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