Kieran Trippier is leaving but Newcastle United have another big contract decision still to make.
The Swiss centre-back hasn’t featured since the 4-3 comeback win over Leeds United in the Premier League on January 7 after requiring surgery on an ankle problem.
Schar has spent the last three months recovering and hopes to be in contention for the trip to Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon.
“I think he's feeling good about his body, he's feeling good on his rehab,” head coach Eddie Howe said before the international break. “He's certainly been a big miss for us.
“He's such a great user of the ball, and his passing range has been a huge miss to the team. And also his character, he's a great lad, and really well liked by his teammates. Hopefully, we can get him fit.
“We've got a good period of training time with him, so the Palace game, I'm sure, will be a target for him, whether that's realistic or not. But let's wait and see.”
Newcastle United have big Fabian Schar contract decision
However, Schar’s future beyond the rest of the season is yet to be decided.
Joining from Deportivo La Coruna in 2018 for £3million, Schar is regarded as one of the Magpies’ best pound-for-pound signings of the Premier League era, having gone on to make over 250 appearances.
Schar has played an integral part in the club’s recent success, where in the last three seasons they have twice qualified for the Champions League and ended their 70-year domestic trophy drought by winning the Carabao Cup last year.
But Schar turns 35 in December and at stages this season has found himself behind the likes of Malick Thiaw, Dan Burn and Sven Botman in the pecking order. With defensive reinforcements a priority this summer, Schar could find himself in a similar position next season.
Schar signed a new one-year contract last April to extend his stay at St James’ Park until the end of the 2025-26 campaign, though it remains to be seen if Newcastle will table a similar offer.
Fabian Schar has already addressed his Newcastle United future
The player has said previously that’d he’d be open to retiring on Tyneside but may have to assess his own ambitions. Newcastle are eyeing defensive reinforcements this summer, which could lead to a reduction in Schar’s playing time.
Speaking about his future late last year, Schar said: “I have said before that I feel at home here. I know in football you never know what happens and it goes quick. If that's something that can happen, that would be good. I would be open to it of course.
"We need to see what the situation is and what happens in the next few weeks. I will just try to show what I can do with my quality, and the rest we will see."
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