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Ki must be sweating after Longstaff display v Man City

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Image for Ki must be sweating after Longstaff display v Man City

OPINION

It will no doubt go down as Newcastle United’s best result of the season, but the 2-1 win over Manchester City on Tuesday night was special for another reason.

The result epitomised the impact midfielder Sean Longstaff has made since he was drafted into the starting XI due a number of notable absentees – and while many thought that he would not last long, it looks like Rafa Benitez’s plan has worked.

The 21-year-old did not look out of place in the slightest when up against some of the Premier League’s best midfielders, and following the match, City boss Pep Guardiola was quick to praise the midfield that included Longstaff.

“We could not deal with Newcastle’s holding midfielders,” he said, as quoted by the Chronicle.

As far-fetched as it would have sounded before the game actually took place – many fans would have laughed in your face if you said that Newcastle would dominate the midfield against City – Guardiola is absolutely spot on.

However, this praise is going to have one of Longstaff’s teammates sweating profusely.

That player is Ki Sung-yueng, who is still sidelined with injury – but by the looks of it, his chances of getting back into the first team upon his return are looking very slim indeed if Longstaff’s displays are anything to go by.

He has not done anything to warrant being dropped – in fact, there is nothing to suggest that he should not be started.

As talented as Ki is – after all, he is a player who reinvigorated the midfield to turn the team’s fortunes around with their first win a few months ago – his place is now seriously under threat.

For a player who was only drafted in as a solution the team’s recent injury woes, it looks like he is set to stay for the long haul after blowing everyone away on Tuesday.

The 6ft 1in [Transfermarkt] star will now be sweating buckets after this display – and it is safe to say that Guardiola’s comments do not help matters either.

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