OPINION
Sean Longstaff looks set to become the first Newcastle academy star to break through into the first-team in a very long time, with Paul Dummett the last to successfully make the grade.
The young midfielder has just signed a new long-term deal with the club in a big show of faith from manager Rafa Benitez, but the 21-year-old has still made just the one first-team appearance for the club so far.
Longstaff has made the bench on several occasions in recent weeks but is yet to come on as a substitute to make his Premier League bow, with that only appearance coming in the Carabao Cup loss to Nottingham Forest in the early season.
Obviously chances at Premier League level are hard to come by for any youngster, with players like Mo Diame, Ki Sung-yueng and Jonjo Shelvey all ahead of Longstaff in the pecking order.
Sometimes starlets need a lucky turn to make that breakthrough, and it looks like such an opportunity could be on the way for Longstaff in the coming weeks.
As reported by the Chronicle, Ki could be called up to the South Korea squad for the upcoming Asian Cup after next weekend’s clash against Fulham.
South Korea are allowed to call up players 15 days before the tournament, which starts in early January, meaning Ki could be whisked off for international duty very soon.
Obviously Newcastle will be hoping to reach a compromise with the South Korean federation, but should they not be able to, then Longstaff has a real chance to step up in light of this possibly imminent blow.
Shelvey is the clear choice to step into the starting lineup for Ki, but that puts Longstaff right in line to be Benitez’s first option off the bench in midfield.
That will inevitably mean appearances do come for the rarely-seen youngster, and he must grasp that chance with both hands should it happen in the coming weeks.