Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez has revealed that midfielder Sean Longstaff will not play again this season.
The 21-year-old academy graduate has impressed since making his debut on Boxing Day, but was forced off during the Magpies’ 2-0 defeat to West Ham last weekend.
Benitez, as quoted by Sky Sports News reporter Keith Downie on Twitter, has now revealed that the youngster will not feature again this season due to cruciate ligament damage.
The Spaniard did also suggest that the damage, while significant, did not constitute a full tear.
Rafa Benítez reveals Sean Longstaff has injured his cruciate ligament. He won’t play again this season, but it’s not a complete tear like what Florian Lejeune had. Reckons the midfielder has the mentality to come back stronger #NUFC
— Keith Downie (@SkySports_Keith) March 8, 2019
OPINION
This is probably not the news that Newcastle United fans will have been hoping for, but it could prove to be a blessing in disguise of the Magpies in some ways. Longstaff has been in such incredible form that there is no way he couldn’t have been reintroduced to the side had he been fit enough to feature, but rushing him back could have been detrimental in the long run. This way, the midfielder has already proven himself, and now has the time and space to fully rehabilitate without the pressure of wondering if he can still play or not this season, and he should come back stringer because of it. There’s no doubting the impact he has had and you would fancy him to approach the new campaign with a renewed sense of purpose and a real belief that a place in the side is waiting for him to claim. He clearly has a fine mental attitude, and next year will definitely be his for the taking.