Newcastle United defender Fabian Schar has been included in WhoScored’s Premier League team of the season so far.
The Swiss defender has impressed for the Magpies this season, lifting their win ratio from just 6.7% when he isn’t in the side to 50% when he features from the off.
The 27-year-old has also chipped in with three goals for the Toon Army, and is named alongside Liverpool ace Virgil van Dijk in the heart of defence.
Title favourites @ManCity and @LFC make up the bulk of our Premier League team of the season so far, but do any of their respective representatives make your @FootballIndexUK portfolio?
Read @_WrightJosh's article now — https://t.co/n3cwuNb7ju pic.twitter.com/nykoPcKceu
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) March 26, 2019
OPINION
Schar’s inclusion may come as a surprise to some, but for anybody who has watched Newcastle United regularly this season, this will be no shock whatsoever. The Swiss centre-back has been nothing short of incredible at times, and the Magpies look like a vastly better side with him in the lineup. Moving to a three at the back alongside Jamaal Lascelles and Florian Lejeune has certainly helped his cause, but so much of his personal progression seems to have come from hard work and a newfound comfort in his surroundings. Schar brings a lot more than just defensive solidity, however, and his three goals, including a stunning brace earlier in the season, have set him up as one of the most eye-catching defensive talents outside of the top six. If he continues win this form, the Magpies might face a fair bit of competition to keep a hold of him.
