£3m Newcastle player now looks certain to start vs Wolves after ‘moment of madness’

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The Newcastle United squad will suddenly be a bit stronger when Eddie Howe’s side face Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux.

Joe Willock could be fit to face Wolves, while Eddie Howe will definitely be able to welcome one player back into the group for Sunday’s game.

Newcastle United have been without Fabian Schar for the majority of the new season. He started the opening game against Southampton, but only lasted 28 minutes.

Fabian Schar has served a three-match suspension after opening day red card

The 32-year-old was sent off for a ‘headbutt’ on Southampton forward Ben Brereton Diaz, with Schar’s red card described as a ‘moment of madness’ by Saints boss Russell Martin.

It was a harsh red card, with Brereton Diaz conning the referee to get his opponent sent off. Brereton Diaz was called ‘pathetic’ by Alan Shearer, while Schar forced his teammates to play with 10-men for over an hour.

The red card also meant that Schar was suspended for three games, with the Swiss defender missing the matches against Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur.

Newcastle have coped without Fabian Schar

During Schar’s absence, Emil Krafth has been asked to slot in at centre-back, despite right-back being his preferred position.

The Sweden international has performed admirably, producing some resolute displays to help Newcastle United maintain their unbeaten start to the season.

Howe called Krafth ‘magnificent’ after the win against Southampton, and the 30-year-old continued to perform at a high level for the duration of Schar’s ban.

Emil Krafth should be replaced by Schar against Wolves

But now the £3million man’s suspension is over, and it has coincided with Krafth emerging as an injury doubt to face Wolves.

The defender picked up a problem during the win over Tottenham, which forced him to pull out of the recent Sweden squad.

Ahead of Sunday’s trip to Molineux, Krafth has not been spotted in Newcastle training. While he may just not have been picked up by the cameras, it does suggest he could be at risk of missing the game against Wolves.

And that could hand Schar an immediate route back into Eddie Howe’s starting XI. The Newcastle United manager will be desperate to bring Schar back into the team, even if Krafth has performed very well in his absence.

Defensively, Newcastle have done well. However, they have not been good enough on the ball. That has partially been down to Schar’s unavailability, as the former Switzerland international is an incredible passer who can start attacks from deep.

Newcastle have not had that quality during his suspension, and it certainly hurt them offensively.

But now Schar is back, and Krafth’s injury concern should lead Newcastle’s number five straight back into the starting lineup. It will be a welcome return, as Newcastle are a much better team with Schar.