The Magpies defenders were restricted to a bench role at Villa Park
Football content editor for Chronicle Live, Sunderland Live, Gazette Live, Leeds Live, Yorkshire Live and Hull Live. A North East native, he has been working in sports journalism since 1995. Stuart has worked on the Sunday Sun, Chronicle and the Journal since move from the Gateshead Post in 1999.
Newcastle United's Malick Thiaw (left) and Sven Botman
Newcastle United's Malick Thiaw and Sven Botman(Image: Newcastle United via Getty Images)
You didn't expect them to lie down, did you? If there is anything we have learned about Newcastle United central defensive pairing Dan Burn and Fabian Schar over the last few seasons, it's that they will fight to the very end.
They put their bodies on the line for Eddie Howe and the black-and-white cause each and every week, and have already shown they are going to take some shifting from his strongest starting XI.
Newcastle's search for a right-sided centre-back has finally come to an end with the signing for German stopper Malick Thiaw from AC Milan, but the 24-year-old was given an early indication of the task ahead of him at Villa Park on Saturday.
Simiiarly, as Sven Botman regains full match fitness after a hugely disrupted 2024-25 campaign, he could only watch from the sidellines as the two elder statesmen of the back line went about their job in style.
It was perhaps no surprise Howe opted to go with his tried and tested paring at the back ahead of the goalless draw against Aston Villa which got their Premier League season under way on Saturday lunchtime.
After all, Thiaw had only a handful of training sessions with his new team-mates after arriving from Milan early last week, while Botman had another injury setback in pre-season.
Newcastle United defenders Dan Burn and Fabian Schar
Newcastle United defenders Dan Burn and Fabian Schar impressed at Aston Villa
The classy Dutchman returned to play the first 45 minutes of the friendly with Atletico Madrid last week, but didn't have enough summer gametime in the tank to warrant a first-team start.
The duo are seen as the future in the heart of the Newcastle defence, an exciting prospect indeed, especially when you consider that full-backs Tino Livramento (22) and Lewis Hall (20) are very much at the start of their careers.
With 27-year-old Aaron Ramsdale now at the club, it's a back five that could serve United for many years to come.
However on the evidence of the opening 90 minutes of the Premier League season on Saturday, Burn and Schar are going nowhere soon.
Swiss stopper Schar earned Ally McCoist's man of the match award on TNT Sports, edging it over his defensive partner thanks to a couple of stunning long-range passes.
Malick Thiaw warms up for Newcastle United at Aston Villa
Malick Thiaw warms up for Newcastle United at Villa Park
Neither have anything to prove to Howe nor any Newcastle fan, but they showed no signs of feeling the pressure from the bench with assured performances that blunted a Villa attack which included Ollie Watkins, Morgan Rogers, John McGinn and Dolyen Malen.
Far from being concerned about his Newcastle place, Burn was asked about his England World Cup hopes by Peter Crouch and Joe Cole in a pre-match chat.
Of course both Botman and Thiaw will get their opportunity, not least when the Champions League games start in September. Indeed it may be that the pair get their chance to impress in Europe initially, and then the real battle will begin.
Howe has probably had enough of 'problems' this summer after a turbulent transfer window - but this is one he may relish. And it will only benefit the Newcastle squad.