Schar: I must be patient... but I’m raring to go
IMPRESSIVE SCHAR WAITS TO SEE IF HE HAS DONE ENOUGH TO KEEP HIS PLACE IN TEAM
NEWCASTLE United boss Rafa Benitez has a big decision to make ahead of United’s next game against Burnley when it comes to Switzerland international Fabian Schar.
The 26-year-old has been a real star in the last two Premier League games against Bournemouth and Watford and should Jamaal Lascelles be declared fit after a shoulder injury Benitez has to consider Schar’s situation carefully.
Schar arrived at Newcastle after being a regular in La Liga for Deportivo La Coruna and also shone at the World Cup with Switzerland.
In short, the defender is not used to sitting on the sidelines after playing regularly with Basel, Hoffenheim and Depor throughout his career.
Opening up on his start to life at United, where he has been used sparingly, Schar told the Chronicle: “You have to be patient.
“Sometimes it is not easy - but everyday working hard is what it is all about. That is what I have had to do. The last two weeks I was not getting the minutes.
“Even when you know you have to be patient it is not easy.
“You have to do everything to be ready when you are needed.
“I was ready and I am happy about the last two weeks.”
Schar was one of the best players on the pitch against Bournemouth and he also performed brilliantly against Watford in United’s first win of the campaign.
However, he insists it is not just about him.
Schar went on: “The most important thing was claiming the win for the team.
“I got extra minutes but we now have six points from six in the last two home games and we are back on the up.
“The fans tried to give us everything in the game.
“I am really happy with that. I also got a bit of rest after the international break.
“I have come back into the team where there is a good feeling.”
Schar is grappling with Lascelles, Ciaran Clark and Federicio Fernandez for a first-team spot - and that is without mentioning Florian Lejeune, who is due back from injury in the coming weeks and months.
However, Schar feels the competition for places is healthy and after the Magpies picked up seven points from an avail- able nine they now find themselves in 14th place in the Premier League ahead of that
Sometimes it is not easy - but everyday working hard is what it’s all about. That is what I have had to do.
Monday night trip to Turf Moor. Before Newcastle’s draw at Southampton there had been talk of a crisis building on Tyneside.
However, the £3million buy from La Liga said: “We have addressed that. “We have seven points from the last three games but we have to keep working.
“We can enjoy the points but between now and Christmas we have a lot of training and work to do.
“It is about being focused on the next game against Burnley.
“Three more points is the aim and we have to keep working with that mentality.”
United will spend the week checking on their international brigade, full-back Paul Dummett nursing a knock sustained in Wales’ 2-1 defeat against Denmark in Cardiff.
It could yet result in a total defensive reshuffle for Benitez but in Schar the Toon boss has a defender who is fully fit and raring to go.