This Newcastle United player is an 'impeccable' professional – here's why

Federico Fernandez has played 810 minutes of football since the Premier League restarted last month – and he’ll be in the starting XI against champions Liverpool on Sunday.

And head coach Steve Bruce has paid tribute to the “impeccable” 31-year-old, who joined Newcastle from Swansea City two years ago and signed a one-year contract extension in March.

“The reason why he’s been able to play 10 games in my opinion, not missed a minute, is the way he behaves as a pro,” Bruce told NUFC TV. "He’s impeccable. He trains every day, works hard every day, eats well. He does things right, and that’s the reward, when you see someone his age who’s still fresh as a daisy.”

Fernandez is injury-hit Bruce’s only fit senior central defender.