Alan Shearer has been so impressed with one Newcastle United player recently who he thinks has been a bargain buy.
Looking back to Mike Ashley’s ownership of Newcastle there’s not too many players you would look at and think that it’s been an unbelievable bit of business, but £3m for Fabian Schar is definitely up there.
Speaking on Match of the Day, Shearer shared how impressed he’s been with the defender against Aston Villa and in his latest run of games alongside Sven Botman.
Shearer says Newcastle man has been ‘absolutely fantastic’
In a defence that includes both Botman and Kieran Trippier, it says a lot about Schar that you’d probably argue that he’s been Newcastle’s best and most reliable defender this season.
The 32-year-old has hardly put a foot wrong and his technical ability on the ball is so crucial to the way that Eddie Howe likes to play building up from the back.
It’s rare you see a centre-back so comfortable on the ball and with the ability to pick out a a perfect pass across the pitch or hit the back of the net from 30 yards out, but Schar can do all of that.
Against Villa, Schar picked up his first brace since 2019 and Shearer was full of praise for the defender who secured Newcastle all three points.
On the show, Shearer said: “Fabian Schar £3m back in 2018, what a signing he’s been. Defensively he looks so confident with Botman back as he was against Villa, they’re a really good partnership.
“He understands the game, he can play out from the back, he can spray those long passes, his understanding of when and where to be in position.
His defensive duties were brilliant and have been brilliant and what a signing he’s been. Absolutely fantastic.”
Schar has become so underrated at Newcastle
PLaying in a team with such quality players you actually forget how good Schar can be firstly because of how cheap he was almost six years ago and the fact he was consistently being left out of the squad by Steve Bruce.
There’s perhaps a perception from outside the club that Schar is an area where Newcastle would like to upgrade in the summer, but it’s difficult to see how many centre-backs there are available who are so much better than him.
The Swiss international has quickly become one of the most underrated players in the Premier League let alone defenders, it’s just unfortunate that his best form was discovered by Howe towards the end of his career.
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