![Schar didn’t feature for Newcastle in their final three pre-season matches after picking up a hamstring injury against Chelsea last month. The Swiss centre-back has only just returned to training with Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe appearing optimistic regarding the player’s potential involvement this weekend.
“As we currently stand, yes he will be [involved],” the Newcastle boss said in his pre-match press conference. “He has trained this week, he has trained well. He was back with us on Tuesday so he’s had a full week’s training.”](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2023/08/09/16/GettyImages-1554596346.jpg?trim=0,0,30,0&crop=&width=640&quality=70&enable=upscale)
Newcastle will be hoping to build on their fourth place finish from last season while juggling Champions Leaguefootball while Aston Villa will be competing in the Conference League after finishing seventh last term.
Both sides head into the new season with several injury concerns with a number of players already ruled out for the coming weeks.
Here is the injury list for both Newcastle United and Aston Villa as it stands heading into the opening day of the season...
5. Aston Villa: Emi Buendia (knee) - out
Aston Villa suffered a major injury set-back ahead of the match with midfielder Emi Buendia picking up a serious knee ligament injury in training and is now facing an extended spell on the sidelines. “With the last action in training,” Villa boss Unai Emery said. “It’s a six, seven, or eight-month injury. “It was the worst injury for the player. He is now visiting the doctors, who will make the decision.” | Getty Images
6. Aston Villa: Jacob Ramsey (foot) - out
Jacob Ramsey helped terrorise Newcastle at Villa Park last season but won’t make the opening day of the season after suffering a fractured metatarsal. The 22-year-old is expected to be facing around another month on the sidelines. | Getty Images
7. Aston Villa: Alex Moreno (hamstring) - out
Alex Moreno is closing in on a return after undergoing hamstring surgery at the back end of last season. Last month, Emery suggested the player could be back in contention by the end of August. Following the 3-3 Premier League Summer Series draw with Newcastle, Emery said: “Alex Moreno had a surgery and he is going to be ready at the end of August or the beginning of September.” | Getty Images
![Teenage forward Jhon Duran is close to a return following a spell on the side-lines. Emery claims the player will be back in training ‘next week’ but will miss the opening weeks of the campaign.
“Jhon is still injured but is coming back next week,” Emery said. “Hopefully, we can add him [to the squad in] two or three weeks working consistently with us.”](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2023/07/27/13/GettyImages-1252429819.jpg?crop=4:3&trim=&width=800)
8. Aston Villa: Jhon Duran - out
Teenage forward Jhon Duran is close to a return following a spell on the side-lines. Emery claims the player will be back in training ‘next week’ but will miss the opening weeks of the campaign. “Jhon is still injured but is coming back next week,” Emery said. “Hopefully, we can add him [to the squad in] two or three weeks working consistently with us.” | AFP via Getty Images