Mark Douglas has been speaking on the latest episode of the Everything is Black and White Podcast, and he spent some time discussing Matty Longstaff during the show.
The Chronicle reporter provided his view on the 20-year-old’s new contract with the Toon and how he sees the future panning out for him.
It seems as if Douglas feels that Longstaff might be loaned out to a Championship club where he can play every week until January.
He said: “He can kick on, can Matty Longstaff; he’s got goals in him, he’s got potential definitely, he needs to play now either at Newcastle or on loan.
“He may go on loan, they may decide to put him somewhere until January, especially if they get Jeff Hendrick in [which is now confirmed], and say ‘right, go and play, go to a really big Championship club – a Middlesbrough or somebody like that – where you’ll play every week and you’ll get the chance to be the main man there and then come back in January, and we’ll reintegrate you.’”
Would you send Longstaff out on loan?
No, keep him at the club
Yes, a Championship move would be good for him
TIF Thoughts…
Longstaff, who is valued at £4.5m according to Transfermarkt, had an offer from Udinese for around £30,000 per week and a five-year deal, but he turned that down to stay with Newcastle after a decent debut season in the first team.
The 20-year-old made 16 appearances in all competitions and scored three goals, including the winner against Manchester United on his league debut.
However, following the Premier League’s restart in June, Longstaff made just two league appearances, and it looked as if he was going to leave St James’ Park for good, but instead, he has signed this two-year deal.
It will be interesting to see what happens now as the Toon have signed Hendrick, so there will be some competition for places in central midfield.
A loan to a Championship club might be a good thing for Longstaff and it will be intriguing to see if he does go out on loan, as Douglas suggested.