Schar struggling to adapt to bench role

FABIAN Schar has admitted he has found it hard to accept that he isn't a guaranteed first-team starter after losing his place in the Newcastle side.

- ROSS GREGORY Head of sport [e-mail]

The Swiss defender, a virtual ever-present over the last four years, has been restricted to a place on the bench for the last two games against Everton and Tottenham Hotspur, with Dan Burn chosen ahead of him as Malick Thiaw's centre-back partner.

Schar's problems began when he was ruled out for three games with a concussion picked up against Barcelona. The defender had started United's first five games of the season, helping keep three clean sheets.

However, in his absence £35m summer signing Thiaw came into the side and has produced a string of stunning performances, consigning the 33-year-old to watching from the dugout.