Report: Ever-present Newcastle defender has to make-do with supporting role for his country

Newcastle United's Mr Reliable Fabian Schar has started every game for the club this season seemingly defying the odds by shaking off injury after injury to do so.

The 32-year-old is pushing Anthony Gordon for that player of the season accolade after becoming Eddie Howe's main man this season.

Nothing seems to keep Schar down as he seems to overcome every injury scare to turn out for the team in the next game which is why we have christened him The Toonminator.

However, as good as he has been for his club, the story at international level is quite different.

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Schar has been told he is no longer a starter for Switzerland

The Swiss international has 78 caps for his country and is expected to be with the national side for Euro 2024 this summer, however, The Shields Gazette are reporting that he will be seen as a back-up rather than a starter.

Manchester City's star defender Manuel Akanji leads the Swiss defense and boss Murat Yakin has said the he and Schar have had a frank and open discussion about his role for the national side.

"It was an intensive exchange, open and honest. We haven’t discussed it like that before. He now knows his role.

"Of course he wants to play. We can’t allow ourselves to fall out within the national team. Fabian is now looking forward, let’s see how he accepts his role.”

Switzerland's loss is Newcastle's gain

As a Newcastle fan this is actually welcome news. As much as Schar seems to be made of solid titanium, he is getting on in years in footballing terms, so fewer games at Euro 2024 means he'll be fresher for the new season for his club.

Newcastle will be shopping for new defenders this summer, especially now that Sven Botman is set to miss a big chunk of the new season following his ACL surgery, but we expect that Schar will be kept around as the elder statesman of the defence.

Schar recently signed a new contract with Newcastle and nobody can say he hasn't earned it, shining as one of our outstanding players in a less-than-stellar season.