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Newcastle United: Florian Lejeune’s injury opens the door for Fabian Schar

By Durim Halimi

BURNLEY, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 30: Newcastle defender Florian Lejeune in action during the Premier League match between Burnley and Newcastle United at Turf Moor on October 30, 2017 in Burnley, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
BURNLEY, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 30: Newcastle defender Florian Lejeune in action during the Premier League match between Burnley and Newcastle United at Turf Moor on October 30, 2017 in Burnley, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) /
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Florian Lejeune must undergo immediate knee surgery and this opens the door for Fabian Schar in the starting eleven.

Rafa Benitez recently informed the media that Florian Lejeune has torn a ligament in one of his knees and requires surgery. This unexpected and unfortunate injury is a major blow for Newcastle United in defense, especially after selling Chancel Mbemba to FC Porto.

Down two defenders to start the season, the Magpies have reason to be concerned, however, hope is not lost. The club’s most recent signing, Fabian Schar, will be expected to step up to the plate and perform at a high level.

Seeing Schar’s extensive experience at the club and international level, Newcastle’s defensive unit will be in good hands. While it is unfortunate to see Lejeune go down with a severe injury, this opportunity will enable Schar to make the starting role his for the long-run.

The Lascelles-Schar Duo

With Chancel Mbemba gone, Florian Lejeune injured and Ciaran Clark being inconsistent in his form, Fabian Schar is the best option to start alongside Jamaal Lascelles. Schar is no stranger to handling pressure to perform as he enjoyed top form in the Bundesliga and La Liga.

His experience playing at high levels will help him maintain composure in the Premier League, but his talent will make him stand out. It is difficult to predict how well the duo of Lascelles and Schar will be in the center of the back-line, but their skills do complement each other.

Lascelles possesses great strength and coordination skills that enable Newcastle to recover the ball quickly, especially in dangerous situations. Schar also boasts great strength, but he can also build a counter-attack as he possesses great pace.

This combination of strength in the center and pace to move the ball up the field will serve Newcastle well this season. It will be a joy to watch the duo build chemistry on the back-line and set the tone for the rest of the team with their urgency.

To make things better for Newcastle, Lascelles and Schar are both underrated defenders who will play with the mentality of showcasing their true quality. Benitez will struggle with depth on defense, but he can rest assured that Schar will be a strong replacement for Lejeune.