Lee Ryder has been speaking on the latest edition of the Everything is Black and White podcast about all things Newcastle United.
One of the topics that The Chronicle reporter spent some time on was Matty Longstaff, who has barely featured this season since he signed his new two-year deal in the summer.
The 20-year-old, who is valued at £4.5m by Transfermarkt, burst onto the scene last season with the winning goal against Manchester United on his Premier League debut and made 15 appearances in all competitions.
However, this season, he has only featured for 29 minutes in all competitions for Newcastle’s first team.
He did have an injury at the beginning of the season, but since then, he has just not been involved, and Ryder finds the whole situation strange.
He said: “A lot of people around the press area were saying ‘what’s going on with Matty Longstaff?’
“He has played 29 minutes this season. He stayed at Newcastle United because they said they were going to give him a game plan because what he had on the table from Udinese and a couple of other teams was ‘you’re was going to play every week’.
“He has played 29 minutes – it’s December. It’s really baffling what is going on with Matty Longstaff.
“He’s fit, he’s available to play, and we’ve seen he does make a difference – so you would have thought he’d have got more of an opportunity.”
Would you like to see Longstaff involved?
Yes, he deserves a chance
No, he isn't good enough
TIF Thoughts on Longstaff and his absence…
It does seem very odd that the Toon would hand the 20-year-old a new deal and then not play him even though he is fit, according to Ryder.
Newcastle do have many central midfield options, but so far this season, Jonjo Shelvey is probably the only one who has played well consistently, so you would think Longstaff should be given a go.
He turned down a huge contract offer from Udinese to stay on Tyneside, so if he is fit as Ryder says, then we would like to see him involved in some of the Toon’s upcoming games.