Fantasy Premier League

Eye for goal makes Schar an exciting signing

By The Scout 31 Jul 2018

Newcastle United's attacking centre-back is one of four players newly available in FPL

As four players are added to Fantasy Premier League, there could be a new target in the Newcastle United defence.

Summer signing Fabian Schar (£5.0m) produced two goals and two assists for Deportivo La Coruna last season.

Those four goal involvements, plus his 18 shots on goal, were both more than any Newcastle defender in 2017/18.

Goal threat of Newcastle defenders

2017/18	2018/19 price	Apps	Goals	Assists
Schar	£5.0m	25	2	2
Lascelles	£5.0m	33	3	0
Clark	£4.5m	20	2	1
Lejeune	£4.5m	24	0	2
Yedlin	£4.5m	34	0	2
Manquillo	£4.5m	21	0	1
Dummett	£4.5m	20	0	0

Schar has posed a similar threat at international level.

The centre-back, who was at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, has scored seven career goals for Switzerland, four of them from headers.

Terrific tackler

Newcastle's chances of clean sheets could also be boosted by the 26-year-old's arrival.

The Magpies kept only nine shutouts last season, the joint-fourth fewest in the Premier League.

Schar has the defensive qualities to improve that record.

He won 45 tackles last term. Only midfielder Mohamed Diame (£5.0m) could better that for Newcastle with 64.

Passing bonus

Schar's passing ability could benefit from the Bonus Points System (BPS), which decides how bonus points are awarded.

Players who attempt at least 30 passes in a match can score in the BPS. They get two, four or six BPS if they complete 70 per cent, 80 per cent or 90 per cent of their passes.

Schar averaged 37.8 passes per match last season, completing 80.2 per cent of them.

Schar v Newcastle centre-backs

2017/18	Schar	Lascelles	Lejeune	Clark
Mins/shot	123.3	244.0	161.8	158.6
Mins/CBI*	10.9	10.4	10.2	10.6
Mins/succ. tackle	49.3	154.1	105.2	102.6
Mins/succ. pass	2.9	3.2	2.6	3.5

* denotes clearances, blocks and interceptions

Early scare

Newcastle's opening fixtures might put off early investors.

Rafa Benitez's men have a tough run of opponents in the first five Gameweeks, facing four of last season's top six teams during that spell.

They have also lost Florian Lejeune (£4.5m) to a cruciate ligament injury in pre-season, with the centre-back's return date unknown.

But that can boost the chance of secure starts for Schar, who has the all-round ability and goal threat to be a key target for FPL managers as the season unfolds.