Steve Bruce issues Newcastle United contract update on Federico Fernandez and Fabian Schar

The 17th-placed club remains nine points above the relegation zone following yesterday’s 2-0 defeat to Arsenal at St James’s Park.

Fabian Schar out of contract at the end of the season, was sent off on his comeback from injury – and will miss the next three games through suspension.

Federico Fernandez – whose deal expires in the summer – also played in the Premier League game.

The club has an option to extend Schar’s deal, and Bruce was asked about his situation and that of his defensive colleague Fernandez, one of the club’s most consistent and experienced players, after the game, which was decided by goals from Mohamed Elneny and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

“Fab Schar, there’s a clause in his contract that we can extend it, so I believe,” said United’s head coach. “All of them decisions are obviously discussions to be had when the season’s done and dusted.

"We’re not done and dusted yet. There are difficult decisions to make, of course at every football club, that’s part and parcel of it. Yes, we’ve got some big decisions to make.”

Schar – who had returned from knee surgery ahead of Switzerland’s Euro 2020 campaign – will be available for the club’s final game of the season away to Fulham on May 23.

Asked about the 29-year-old’s dismissal for a challenge on Gabriel Martinelli, Bruce said: "The way it is at the moment and the rules are, there's no tackles anymore. I don't think it deserves a red. Maybe it's a yellow.”

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