Newcastle United defender included in Garth Crooks’ Team of the Week after Brighton win

Ex-Tottenham Hotspur forward Garth Crooks has included Fabian Schar in his Team of the Week thanks to his brilliant display at the weekend.

The Newcastle United defender scored his first goal of the season as the Magpies extended their unbeaten run to eight games with a 2-1 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion.

Schar has become a solid member of Eddie Howe’s backline since the turn of the year and is proving exactly why Newcastle are looking to extend his stay on Tyneside.

On Schar, Crooks said: “Last week Fabian Schar was making goals, this week he’s scoring them. It was great movement and a brilliant header and the Magpies are flying.

“It’s the second consecutive time that Schar has made my team of the week and if he keeps on playing like this he might make my team of the season.”

Howe confirmed that the club are preparing to open talks with the Swiss centre-back, with the Magpies eager to see him remain with the club.

Schar’s current deal is set to expire in the summer, four years after he joined Newcastle from Deportivo La Coruna.

Alongside Schar in Crooks’ TOTW is Kasper Schmeichel (Leicester), Thiago Silva (Chelsea), Joao Cancelo (Man City), Reece James (Chelsea), Philippe Coutinho (Aston Villa), Kevin De Bruyne (Man City), Riyad Mahrez (Man City), Ivan Toney (Brentford), Kai Havertz (Chelsea) and Bukayo Saka (Arsenal).