OPINION
Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez would probably argue that the strongest area of his squad in terms of quality in depth would be his centre backs.
You know that you have plenty of talent on your hands when a 32-cap international, in this case Ciaran Clark, is arguably your sixth choice option at the heart of the defence.
However the performance against Arsenal, which saw Jamaal Lascelles take the place of Federico Fernandez alongside Paul Dummett and Florian Lejeune, was bitterly disappointing for the Toon Army, the club captain culpable for a costly error in an all round poor display.
One man who has not been mentioned is Fabian Schar, the Swiss international missing out against the Gunners through suspension – although he might not even have played after picking up a serious head injury while on international duty.
Reported by the Chronicle to have only returned to light training on Friday, there would no doubt have been fears over his ability to play, the severity of concussion suffered still unclear, and were he to still have doubts there is no way he would be taking part in full training.
It is for that reason why his sighting at the club’s training ground on Wednesday (03/04), as pictured on the Magpies’ official website, battling it out alongside his teammates in what looks to be a small-sided game or training drill, is sure to have the Toon Army delighted.
This surely suggests he is fully available for their clash versus Crystal Palace this weekend and considering how his teammates got on in north London, he will be welcomed back with open arms.
