Have Newcastle loan out the wrong defender?

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Newcastle United took the decision to loan out Florian Lejeune this summer.

The Frenchman is spending the 2020/21 season with Spanish outfit Deportivo Alaves, after enduring an injury-hit  2019/20.

It is a shame Lejeune struggled to feature much last term, with the 29-year-old arguably the club’s best defender when fully fit.

Under previous manager Rafa Benitez, the ace was a solid, authoritative figure at the back.

One man who was also very good under Benitez was Fabian Schar, but the Switzerland international hasn’t quite been the same player under Steve Bruce.

He too has had injury problems, but the decision was made to keep hold of the former Deportivo La Coruna star.

Given his display last night on international duty, one wonders if he is the one who needed a loan.

TBR’s View – Should Newcastle have loaned out Schar?

Against Germany last night, Schar really struggled unfortunately.

The £40,000-a-week star (Spotrac) looked uncertain at the back alongside Nico Elvedi, and actually got sent off in the dying embers after picking up two bookings.

It was his sloppy pass that led to Germany’s second goal, with Kai Havertz intercepting and scoring.

Such a mistake would be unimaginable from the player before his recent injury struggles.

His one-vs-one defending against Timo Werner on the third goal was also poor.

Right now, the player looks a far cry from the one that was shining week in week on out for Benitez at St. James’ Park, but hopefully he can turn things around soon and play as Newcastle fans know he can.