Matty Longstaff is likely to tell Newcastle United he wants to leave this summer, according to Football Insider.
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Having only signed a new contract in August 2020 amid interest from the likes of Udinese, the 21-year-old seemed destined for a bright future at St James’ Park. Indeed, he enjoyed a positive breakthrough campaign in which he scored three times across eighteen games in all competitions, including a famous winner against Manchester United on his debut in October.
However, the midfielder simply hasn’t been trusted this season. Handed only 377 minutes of Premier League action, Longstaff’s last senior appearance came way back in January despite the fact he was reportedly given assurances about his playing time when penning a new deal.
As a result, he’s said to be frustrated and will ask the club to accept offers for him should they come in this summer.
Could we blame him?
Absolutely not.
While the manner of Newcastle’s season between December and April may not have been conducive to blooding young players, to have only played in five Premier League games all season is hugely disappointing. In fact, central midfield was seen to have been a problem until Joe Willock arrived on loan, so to not have been afforded any meaningful game time seems strange.
Granted, it’d be too much to suggest playing Longstaff would have significantly improved Steve Bruce’s team but, given some of the performances the likes of Jeff Hendrick have put in this season, it’s not as if things could have been much worse. After all, in December, The Chronicle praised his performance during an otherwise dismal loss away at Manchester City.
At a crucial point in his development, the club have let him down.
What has Steve Bruce said about Longstaff?
Speaking back in March, Bruce urged the player to keep focused and suggested his time would come, though that clearly wasn’t the case.
“It’s fine, look I have the same thing every other week – I can only pick 11.,” he said (via The Chronicle).
“I have 15 others champing at the bit.
“Matty at the moment is not in the side but let us not forget he has a huge big future, there is no question about that.
“He had a big rise last year and finds himself out the team at the minute.
“He has to stick with it, his time will come again that’s for sure.”
