BBC Sport pundit Garth Crooks has lauded Newcastle United defender Fabian Schar following his latest display for the Magpies against Brentford.
Writing in his Team of the Week column, the former Tottenham star was impressed by the Swiss international after the 30-year-old kept a clean sheet and assisted Joe Willock’s goal moments before half-time.
The result took Newcastle to 14th in the Premier League standings and four points off the relegation zone, and Schar has been one of the club’s most improved players in recent weeks since Eddie Howe fully implemented his tactical system for the Toon.
Newcastle are unbeaten in seven Premier League matches, with Schar playing every single minute of that run, and for Crooks, the centre-back was in commanding form this weekend against Brentford.
The BBC pundit said: “It’s been a long time since Fabian Schar has featured in my team of the week. However, after his brilliant intervention to set up Joe Willock’s superb finish against Brentford, I was compelled to include the Newcastle central defender.”
Crooks added: “Not only did Schar find himself on the halfway line in open play after defending a corner in his own penalty area, but fought off a challenge, looked up and played the most exquisite ball for Willock to score. What is Eddie Howe doing at Newcastle?”
Brentford win showed how important Schar is for Newcastle
Schar has for a while been viewed as one of the better defenders at Newcastle, and the Swiss centre-back’s display against Brentford more than showed that the Magpies star is coming into his own under Howe.
Newcastle have looked solid at the back since the January transfer window, and against Brentford, Schar was at his best as the defender made an assist and kept a clean sheet in a performance that could go a long way in keeping the Magpies in the Premier League.
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