Rafa Benitez has confirmed that Sean Longstaff will not be leaving on loan before August 31st.
It was expected that the 20-year-old would be allowed to leave for an EFL club before the window closes at the end of next week, but the manager has revealed that he told the midfielder he will now be staying:
“I have had a conversation with Sean Longstaff and told him it’s good for him to stay around. He is learning from Shelvey and Diame. He is learning from players who have quality and experience.”
Longstaff was poised to join Portsmouth on loan back in June, but Rafa pulled the plug on the move with the player needed for first team duties.
However, since then, the midfielder hasn’t been selected in the matchday squad for the first two Premier League games. Instead, he has featured for the club’s under 23 side in Premier League 2 matches.
It’s likely that Longstaff will be offered game time in both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup this season. We face Notts Forest away next Wednesday, and it’s highly likely that he’ll play some part in that game.
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