Newcastle have suffered a major blow ahead of their Premier League clash against Leicester City on Friday night.

What's the story?

Steve Bruce's side face the Foxes off the back of a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Arsenal at St James' Park last weekend, with the game seeing Fabian Schar return from injury and get sent off.

Now, The Chronicle's Lee Ryder has confirmed that the Magpies' attempt to get the red card rescinded and thus avoid a three-match ban have proved fruitless, and Schar will not be available for the Tyneside club starting with the game against Leicester tomorrow.

Relaying a club statement: "Newcastle United’s appeal against Fabian Schär’s red card, picked up during Sunday’s match against Arsenal, has been unsuccessful.

"Schär was dismissed by referee Mike Dean in the 90th minute of the game following a tackle on Gabriel Martinelli. An independent panel reviewed the incident following United’s appeal to the Football Association but has upheld the decision. The Swiss defender will miss United’s next three matches against Leicester City, Manchester City and Sheffield United."

Bruce will be gutted

Speaking in his post-match press conference after the game against the Gunners, 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.

"Is it dangerous? Not really. I have sympathy for Fabian Schar. He tries to win the tackle. Maybe a yellow card but certainly not a red."

The Magpies boss clearly felt Schar was hard done by, so news that the FA have upheld the decision to stick with the on-pitch decision will surely leave him gutted.

To make matters worse, the centre-back had only just returned from a lengthy injury that had seen him miss the last ten Premier League games, so for Bruce to lose him again, this time down to suspension, is a hammer blow.

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The three-match ban will now mean Schar will only return for the final game of the season.

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