Mark Douglas has been speaking on the latest edition of the Everything is Black & White podcast about all things relating to Newcastle United.
One of the topics that The Chronicle reporter spent some time on was the continued absence of Matty Longstaff.
The 20-year-old, who is valued at £4.5 million (as per Transfermarkt), has only made five Premier League appearances this season and has not played for the first team since the Toon’s match with Arsenal in January.
Steve Bruce talked about Longstaff’s absence last week and didn’t actually explain why he hasn’t been involved apart from some vague comment about experience.
Certainly, Douglas thinks that the 20-year-old should be playing some part in the remainder of the season.
He said: “Matty Longstaff – I mean, totally and utterly bewildered by what’s gone on there, because I think he did well in the games that he played in, but he’s been, in my opinion, unfairly overlooked in the last few weeks as well.”
Do you want Matty Longstaff to be involved more?
Yes, he could add some energy
No, he doesn't deserve to play
TIF Thoughts on Longstaff’s absence…
Longstaff signed a new two-year deal with the Toon last summer, and though he was injured for a little bit at the start of the season, he has been fit and ready to use, but Bruce just has not played him.
Last season he made 15 first-team appearances for the Toon, and yet this year, he has barely been used, but Bruce insists that there is no problem.
Longstaff’s average rating of 6.29 from WhoScored is pretty poor and is lower than the likes of Jonjo Shelvey and Jeff Hendrick, which could explain why he hasn’t featured much, but we would still like to see him more involved than he has been.