Premier League star forced to hide in bunker during Middle East conflict | Football | Sport

Newcastle defender Fabian Schar has shared his harrowing experiences after finding himself caught up in the turmoil in the Middle East. Schar has now safely returned to Newcastle following rehabilitation for an ankle injury sustained in January. However, the Swiss centre-back took to Instagram to share a snapshot of the conditions he endured during his stay in the Middle East.

On his social media account, Schar posted a photo from what appeared to be the inside of a bunker and wrote: “I’ve just had a few of my most terrifying days having unfortunately witnessed first-hand what’s happening in the Middle East. I was there as part of my rehabilitation programme and I’m glad I found a way to get home safely.

“But what we experienced there, and what’s happening right now, is truly frightening. I hope that help gets to all of the people who need it in those affected areas.”

In January, Eddie Howe had clarified that Schar’s injury, which occurred during a 4-3 victory against Leeds, would sideline him for three months.

Howe said at the time: “He had a successful surgery yesterday which is great news. Everything went according to plan.

“It’s difficult to give a definitive but I think around three months out will be the diagnosis we’ll work towards. If it’s any quicker then great, but we need to give Fabian time to recover.”

Over 3,400 flights have been cancelled, with Dubai and Doha airports shutting down, affecting 102,000 Brits out of the 300,000 who have registered with the UK Foreign Office in recent days. Many have secured flights back to the UK, which are scheduled to depart today.

A number of those left stranded have managed to secure flights back to the UK from Saudi Arabia.