Sean Longstaff is only 25 and has already had quite the rollercoaster career at Newcastle United.
Longstaff, came through the youth system at Newcastle and after a couple of loan spells at Kilmarnock and Blackpool, was plucked out of the Under-21’s and promoted to the first-team by Rafa Benitez, who also gave Longstaff a new four-year contract.
His early appearances for Newcastle were impressive prompting chants of “He’s one of our own” from the Toon Army. After making his debut in the Carabao Cup, Longstaff ended the season having made 13 appearances and bagging himself two goals along the way. His season was cut short, however, after picking up a knee ligament injury.
However, that didn’t stop Manchester United from monitoring his situation at the club with talks of a £50m bid rumoured to be incoming – a bid that never materialised but also coincided with the dip in form from Longstaff.
It was a gradual descent and as such, Longstaff found himself picked regularly for the first team, but as the club’s form dipped, so too did Longstaff’s. It got to a point where fans were turning on the North Shields lad and questioning his place in the team. Under Steve Bruce he was woeful – but so was 90% of the team in fairness to Longstaff.
Enter Eddie Howe – The saviour of many a career – since Eddie Howe has come in, Longstaff’s form has steadily increased to the point where he’s pretty much undroppable.
I’ll admit to being a huge critic of his at the start of this season. I thought he seemed off the pace, his passing and tackling weren’t up to standard, but as the season has gone on, all of these complaints have disappeared.
There’s just one hurdle left for him to overcome and that’s his finishing. Against Leicester, he should have had two goals but spooned one wide and hit another straight at the ‘keeper. Before that against Leeds, he’d put a couple of balls into orbit.
If he keeps working hard in training, this will come and then we will have a complete midfielder on our hands alongside Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton.
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