Full extent of Fabian Schar's injury layoff revealed after Newcastle United defender took full force Marcus Rashford shot to face

Newcastle United defender Fabian Schar, famed for his long balls, rasping shots, beautiful face and picking up at least one head injury per game, kept that last streak going in spectacular fashion on Thursday.

Hardly a game goes by where Fabian Schar doesn't go to ground clutching his head, but more often than not, he gets back to his feet and is fine to continue.

In fairness, on Thursday, after being poleaxed by a powerful Marcus Rashford effort in Newcastle's 2-1 Champions League defeat to Barcelona, Schar did get up and try to continue.

Unfortunately, he was clearly not 100% as he let his would-be assassin rise to meet an unchallenged header and break the deadlock before collapsing to the floor as the effects of the previous encounter caught up to him.

Luke Edwards says Fabian Schar will miss three games

After the game, Schar posted on social media that he would 'miss a few games', and now Luke Edwards has explained on X that concussion protocols rule the Swiss out for 12 days, meaning he will miss today's trip to Bournemouth as well as the Carabao Cup tie against Bradford, and next Sunday's huge game against Arsenal at St James' Park.

"Fabian Schar ruled out for 12 days due to concussion protocols after Barcelona game on Thursday night. A big chance for Botman or Thiaw in his absence #nufc"

Concussion protocols usually rule a player out for six days, but given that this is Schar's second of the season and in very quick succession, it makes sense that it has been doubled.

Schar must refrain from training for a while, then slowly build back up under the supervision of the club medical team, and they have to give him the all clear in 12 days' time.

It's Malick Thiaw's time to shine at centre-back

Thankfully, Malick Thiaw looked cool as a cucumber at the back after replacing Schar on Thursday, and now the German that Newcastle pursued for over a year will be given his chance to prove what he can do in Schar's absence.

Our theory is that Eddie Howe will use this opportunity to go with the younger centre-back pairing and put Sven Botman alongside Thiaw rather than Burn, who plays brilliantly alongside Schar.

Honestly, though, after Howe's team selection in midweek, we are literally just guessing now.