Eddie Howe admits he had doubts when Fabian Schar lined up for stunning opener

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe admitted he was not a happy man when he saw Fabian Schar lining up his “incredible” deadlock-breaking strike against Nottingham Forest.

The Switzerland international defender took aim from distance to end the Magpies’ frustration with a 25-yard piledriver which set his side on their way to a 2-0 win over promoted Forest on their return to the Premier League.

Howe said: “It was an incredible strike from a player that does the unconventional, really. A centre-back shooting from that range – I probably wouldn’t have reached if that was me playing.

“But he’s capable of doing things like that, special moments. I was questioning his decision as he lined up to hit it, but I was delighted to see it hit the net.

“We sort of needed a goal like that to break the deadlock because we had created a number of chances and hadn’t taken them, and it took a long-range goal to get us going.”

Newcastle had to remain patient despite dominating from the first whistle until the last, and it took something special for them to get their noses in front.

Forest goalkeeper Dean Henderson, making his competitive debut for the club after sealing a loan move from Manchester United, denied Joe Willock and Allan Saint-Maximin in quick succession, but there was nothing he could do to keep out Schar’s 58th-minute missile.

He was equally helpless 12 minutes from time when Callum Wilson cleverly flicked Joelinton’s cross past him to seal a win which might have been even more comfortable.

Howe said: “It was a brilliant performance from us, I thought, today. From start to finish, I was very very pleased.

“But at half-time, that game was still very much in the balance. Despite our dominance, we hadn’t scored. Nottingham Forest had