Malcolm Macdonald reckons that Newcastle United midfielder Sean Longstaff will be “back as good as ever” after being ruled out with a long-term injury.
The 21-year-old sustained an injury to his knee ligament during the 2-0 loss to West Ham last Saturday, but Macdonald has been drooling over the big impact he has made since being introduced to the side, labelling him as a “breath of fresh air” for the Magpies.
He adds that he has been particularly impressed by how the young ace has remained grounded this week, and said that this is an attribute that will help establish him into a star.
“I feel so terribly sad for Sean Longstaff who has been the flagbearer for Newcastle United of late. The knee injury he received at West Ham will probably keep him out for the remainder of the season and that not only affects him but the whole team,” he said in his Chronicle column.
“Sean has been a breath of fresh air. He has lifted the entire side but also lifted the terraces being a young Geordie lad fans can identify with. Of course he’ll be back as good as ever, but he was on the verge of England selection and that has now been put on the back burner.
“A small thing this week displayed for me how grounded Longstaff is and how it’ll help him become a huge star. In the most depressing week of his professional life there he was hobbling on crutches on the touchline at a non-league ground.
“He was at Morpeth for a Northumberland Senior Cup tie supporting his brother and United’s academy team having come from the exact same environment. That was first class. The lad is a diamond.”
OPINION
The news that Longstaff is ruled out for the rest of the season would have been disheartening for anyone who has been following his progress at Newcastle over the last few months. There is not a football fan who would have not been humbled by how he has developed recently, and the fact that his aim of being called up for England has been put on the backburner is no doubt gutting for the player himself. He was on the verge of being a fringe player at Newcastle to earning an international call up – but like Macdonald has pointed out, he will come back better than ever. This injury is not going to hamper his progress in anyway, as the one thing he will be remembered for this term is the influence he has had on Newcastle’s results. Longstaff is a diamond that has been unearthed by Rafa Benitez, and long may that continue – as by the looks of it, he is only going to get better and better.