'It's very difficult': Popular Newcastle United star is struggling to come to terms with new role in squad with exit mooted
Eddie Howe has been working on building up a squad with two players for each position at Newcastle United. This was always his goal ever since he first took over the hot seat from Steve Bruce.
That is now more important than ever with Newcastle competing in the Champions League, but part of the problem with a big squad is keeping players happy.
Injuries and dips in form can open a door for someone else to come in and stake a claim to your position, and while Howe has the capability to rotate his players, he also likes to minimise disruption.
One player who has lost their place in the starting XI due to injury this season is Fabian Schar. The 33-year-old has lost his place to Malick Thiaw, who has been unstoppable since filling in for the popular Swiss star following a concussion earlier in the season.
Fabian Schar has struggled to come to terms with losing his place in the starting lineup
Schar's contract is up at the end of the season, and while he has spoken about finishing his career at Newcastle, there have been rumours that he may not be offered a new deal by Ross Wilson. In the meantime, though, Schar has told The Express that he's found it hard to come to terms with not being in the team each week.
"Being on the bench has been quite difficult actually. It wasn't an easy situation. I think I did pretty well at the start of the season. Then I had the concussion, out for three games, and I hadn't done anything wrong or played bad - but it's very hard to get back in the team.
"It's very difficult, it was a new situation which has never been the case in the last four years. A lot of things which were new and not easy.
"It's something I know will happen because I'm getting older but I don't want it to happen. I still feel I can bring a lot to the team.
"I just want to be on the pitch and do the same thing I've tried to do over the last seven years and leave my heart on the pitch."
We hope Fabian Schar gets to realise his dream of seeing out his career at Newcastle
We absolutely agree with Fabi, he's done nothing wrong, but Malick Thiaw has been sensational since being handed the golden opportunity to start ahead of him in the team.
Even at 33, Schar still looks good at the back for Newcastle, and he's always a threat going forward too, so we hope that the rumours about him not getting a new contract aren't true.
Fabi has endured some tough times in his seven years at the Toon, particularly under Bruce, who seemed to forget he even existed, but Schar has thrived under Eddie Howe, and we would love him to see out his career on Tyneside.
