Some Newcastle United fans have been slamming Sean Longstaff on social media after he collected his North East Football Writers’ Association Young Player of the Year award.
Longstaff has been lauded for his efforts over the 2019 calendar year, which saw him feature regularly under Rafa Benitez before sustaining knee ligament damage during our Premier League match away to West Ham United in March.
Benitez awarded the Newcastle-born midfielder his first-team debut in December 2018 against Liverpool at Anfield, and instantly felt he could trust Longstaff to go on and start eight of our next nine top-flight games.
His efforts also drew links with Manchester United in the summer transfer window, while the club slapped a whopping £50million asking price on him to ward off the Red Devils’ pursuit.
Since then, Longstaff has been in and out of Steve Bruce’s plans at St. James’ Park, with the boss favouring him in seven of our first ten league games of the campaign but only six since returning from a three-match ban for a red card shown against Wolves in October.
Has Longstaff improved since his injury?
Yes
No
Some supporters have also been left underwhelmed by the academy product’s performances in 2019/20, with one suggesting that Manchester United’s interest went to his head while others focused on the impacts of his season-ending knee injury.
Here are some of the messages shared as fans slammed Longstaff when the club shared that he had received his Young Player of the Year award from the North East Football Writers’ Association…
Been truly terrible this season. Major disappointment, thought we had a future England international in our team. #NUFC https://t.co/nqNKpUDniN
— Adam (@AdamBeckett09) February 23, 2020
There was me thinking he was collecting his ‘never looked the same since coming back from injury’ or ‘holds ball for longest time’ award 🙄
— Scott (@ScottBentleyy) February 23, 2020
Poor kid hasn’t kicked a ball straight since rafa left #nufc
— Michael O’Brien (@micknufc85) February 23, 2020
Shame the Man Utd link has gone to his head he’s been awful this season
— Jake Ternent (@TheGeordieLion) February 23, 2020
You didn’t win it on yesterday’s performance that’s for sure.. I’m not one to hate on our player’s but he’s way off the pace recently.. Everybody can have a bad game but its one to many! needs a big big improvement to be a success within the club and within the Premier league..
— Niall (@niallgallag) February 23, 2020
matty’s better
— ryan (@lildelphine) February 23, 2020
matty deserved it morehttps://t.co/XCslkW9QPE
— Kieran | Dana Day (@ultminatozakii) February 23, 2020
In other Newcastle United news, a 5 ft 8 Toon talent has been linked with a move away from St. James’ Park.