OPINION
Rafa Benitez has had one too many absentees in his Newcastle midfield lately and he will no doubt be counting down the days until everyone is available.
Sean Longstaff is the latest youth player to be drafted into the first team set up with the Magpies, providing cover for the injuries to Jonjo Shelvey, Mo Diame and Ki Sung-yueng.
He should now look to the youth set-up again, and focus his attention on midfielder Mo Sangare, who has been excellent for the under-23s recently.
The 20-year-old has already trained with the first time during the past year, but Benitez must step it up a notch by promoting the young ace to the starting XI – if he performs anything like Longstaff has done recently, then the fans will be in for a real treat.
Many will no doubt think it is a risk to throw such a young player into the mix, and they have a right to be sceptical if Benitez decides it is the best thing to do, but if Longstaff can be thrown into the deep end and come out the other end unscathed, then so can Sangare.
He is a midfielder who is known for his excellent passing of the ball as well as his powerful play, and although he still has some learning to do, that will only be accelerated by making his debut for the senior team.
Sangare deserves to be rewarded for his good form recently, and if Chris Waddle thinks he deserves the opportunity, then there must be something about the youngster that is catching the eye.
“Mo Sangare is someone I would like to see given first team opportunities and he would bring that youthful enthusiasm. It’s important to freshen things up,” he said in an interview with Sporting Bet.
It may be a bold risk to take by Benitez, but Sangare playing alongside Longstaff is just what Newcastle need to inject a bit of energy into the side – so he must heed Waddle and give the young prospect a chance to shine.
