Newcastle midfielder Sean Longstaff has revealed that he has begun running and kicking a ball again as he steps up his recovery from injury.
The 21-year-old – who was given his first start under Rafael Benitez on Boxing Day – cemented his place in the side in the New Year before his impressive breakthrough season was cut short at the beginning of March due to a knee injury.
Speaking in an interview published on the Magpies’ official Twitter account, Longstaff revealed that he has recently begun more intense work on his recovery.
“I’m back running and kicking the ball for the first time since the injury so that’s massive for me,” the midfielder said. “It’s tough being out for so long and it’s my first proper injury, obviously on the back of the best two months of my life so far.
“So to have it taken away was pretty horrible to be honest, but looking forward you’ve got to try and get your head around it as quick as possible and start setting yourself little targets.
“I’ve hit one of them, I’m back running and kicking the ball so yeah, it’s been a good day and one I’ve been looking forward to for a while.”
? @seanlongstaff97 made a significant step forward in his recovery from a knee injury today – and he's been speaking to NUFC TV about it.
The midfielder also reflected on his breakthrough season and discussed his future in this exclusive interview…
? https://t.co/dIGl75sRCI pic.twitter.com/IapESNbaDW
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) June 7, 2019
OPINION
This is fantastic news for Newcastle fans. Longstaff was simply brilliant in his short spell in central midfield last season and it was a great shame to see his campaign cut short due to his first proper injury. It came at the worst part time – as Longstaff says – because there is every chance the Englishman would have been a shoo-in for the remaining Premier League games in the season had he not suffered the injury. One particular display that comes to mind was the one he produced to help Newcastle defeat reigning champions Manchester City 2-1 at the end of January. He was unstoppable that game and was simply excellent. It was a definitive sign of things to come. For now, though, Newcastle fans will be happy that Longstaff is back out there testing his knee out. It will be a good while before he will be back up to full fitness, but this latest update is certainly a very exciting one.