Newcastle United utility man Matt Ritchie has joined the growing legions heaping praise on young Magpies midfielder Sean Longstaff.
The 21-year-old has exploded onto the scene since the New Year, and Ritchie has clearly been blown away by the talent of the home-grown Geordie star.
“Oh, he’s a top player,” he told The Chronicle. “But first and foremost, what a great lad. Since he has come in the group, from day one to now, he is exactly the same guy. It’s fantastic to see him doing so well.
“It must be a dream come true for him but he really deserves it. Sean is going to have one hell of a career if he keeps his feet on the floor and keeps working. And he’ll do that, no doubt about that. He is a top, top player and a fantastic lad.”
OPINION
The Longstaff love-in is in full effect, there’s no doubt about that – and why not? He has burst onto the scene in emphatic fashion and is now very much one of Rafael Benitez’s undroppables at Newcastle, along with Ritchie. The big takeaway from Ritchie’s words is not that he thinks Longstaff is a top player, we all know that already, but his insight into the young man’s temperament. Ritchie clearly feels that it’s important that Longstaff keeps his feet on the ground and is confident that he will do just that. That wouldn’t be the case for every young player coming through, especially someone who is impressing as much as Longstaff. They might get carried away and think they’re the bees knees, but Ritchie obviously doesn’t think that’s a concern with Longstaff. As his team mate says, the youngster looks set to have a massive career if he continues on his current trajectory.
