Newcastle United official transfer stance after issuing 'positive' Fabian Schar injury update
Newcastle United official transfer stance after providing updates on Fabian Schar and Dan Burn.
Newcastle United hope to have Fabian Schar available again this season with his injury understood not to be as bad as first feared.
Schar was taken to hospital after being stretchered off during the 4-3 comeback victory over Leeds United on Wednesday night.
The scoreline was level at 2-2 when Schar tangled with Leeds striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin. He hit the ground in agony and immediately signalled to the bench.
In Schar’s absence, Lewis Miley played centre-back alongside Sven Botman as United went 3-2 down before scoring twice stoppage time. Bruno Guimaraes equalised from the penalty spot before Harvey Barnes netted a 102nd minute winner.
Newcastle United issue positive Fabian Schar update
Speaking after the game, Eddie Howe said: “It doesn't look good for Fabian. He's in hospital, I believe, at the moment; he's got an ankle problem, We hope it's not as serious as it looks. We send him our love.
“Such an important player, he's been incredible for us since we've come to the football club, he's been almost an ever-present, he's always put his body on the line for the team and it looks like he's had a bad injury, unfortunately.”
Providing an update 36 hours, Howe has revealed a far more positive update: “Hopefully not too bad, or maybe not as bad as it first looked. That's the initial sort of assessment from Fabian.
“He's got obviously an injury there, but no break. We think it's just ligament damage. We'll be seeing a specialist in the next few days to get sort of definitive answers, but maybe more positive than the initial assessment.”
Will Fabian Schar injury impact Newcastle United’s transfer plans?
As it stands, Newcastle have just two senior centre-backs available in Malick Thiaw and Sven Botman. Thiaw has started the last 25 matches in all competitions while Botman has only just returned from five weeks out with a back issue.
Of Newcastle’s other centre-backs, Dan Burn remains out with a rib and lung injury while Jamaal Lascelles is struggling for fitness. He last started competitively for the club in March 2024.
When asked if that could impact January transfer plans, Howe replied: “First of all, we'll have to get a definitive assessment on the scale of the injury and the time that he's going to be out. At the moment, we're confident Fabian will be back before the end of the season.
“That's sort of the guidelines we've been given. But let's see. Then let's see with Dan and other options that we have internally before looking externally.
“It's not ideal for us, as you say. We've been stretched in that area for a while, and then we get Sven back and we lose Fabian, and Fabian's been outstanding for us, and it's a huge block.
“Dan was given a timeframe that I think will roughly end up being the timeframe. I'm not sure how much we can shave off that with the type of injury that he's got. But he's making good progress.
“He's running, he's out on the grass, he's here every day, and Dan will be very keen to push himself back, but I think it's one that we have to be careful with.”