Newcastle United have been handed a significant boost with Fabian Schar and Isaac Hayden both taking part in training on Wednesday after suffering injury in the win over Southampton.
As revealed on the Magpies’ official Twitter account, both the defender and midfielder were back playing among their teammates on the training ground on Wednesday, having both been substituted because of problems suffered in the 3-1 victory over the Saints.
?? @IsaacHayden65 and @fabianschaer both trained today after picking up injuries in the second half of Saturday's game against Southampton.
Check out our full training gallery to see who else took part: https://t.co/HkPLqhPlep #NUFC pic.twitter.com/FZi18ROKCR
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) April 24, 2019
Schar and Hayden have been mainstays for manager Rafael Benitez in recent months and their return to training will put them in contention to keep up their good form versus Brighton this weekend.
Opinion
Losing both Schar and Hayden would have been a tough blow for Benitez to take, not least because he has already lost Miguel Almiron for the rest of the season. Hayden has perhaps been the club’s top performer in the middle of the park, completing a remarkable turnaround for a player who was out of favour earlier in the season and has confirmed he wants to leave St James’ Park. Schar meanwhile is the club’s best ball playing defender and is so crucial in the way the Newcastle defence, when operating as a back three, work together. He can ping balls forward as well as spread it out wide with his passing ability and so to see him back is a boost, especially with Florian Lejeune out for the rest of the campaign. The hope will be that the pair are both fit enough to take part against Brighton this weekend, although you can be sure Benitez will not want to risk their fitness if he does not have to.