In just one season, Fabian Schar has firmly become a fan-favourite on Tyneside, and with his brilliant defensive displays as well as an eye for goal, it is not hard to see why.
Playing for Switzerland against Ireland on Thursday, he scored a magnificent goal, in what was one of the great team moves you will ever see.
For a centre-back to be so confident, adventurous and able to spot an opportunity to score from a defensive position, is rare to see, and Newcastle fans have not had that in a defender for many seasons.
It led one fan on Twitter to liken him to Philippe Albert, from Kevin Keegan’s Entertainers era, and it is a perfect comparison for the Swiss international.
Everyone remembers Albert’s outrageous lob over Manchester United keeper Peter Schmeichel, and similarly fans will long-recall Schar’s thunderbolt against Burnley last season.
Fabian Schar is worth his weight in gold
Any defender that can chip in with goals is worth their weight in gold, and Schar has proven he can do just that, whether it is for club or country.
After struggling to get a decent run in the team after his arrival, he has now become undroppable with his displays, and along with Jamaal Lascelles and Paul Dummett, he has the licence to make forays forward, knowing that there is adequate cover behind him.
He is an asset for the club, and it will be interesting to see what Steve Bruce does when Florian Lejeune is fully fit again.
But it is a great problem to have, and centre-back is the one area of the team where we have a wealth of riches.
Fans were quick to laud their Swiss defender after his wonder-goal. Here are a few of the comments:
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