Newcastle United supporters have been reacting on Twitter after Liam Kennedy asked for their thoughts on Steve Bruce’s midfield conundrum.
The St. James’ Park outfit were dealt a huge blow in their fight for Premier League survival recently as Isaac Hayden was ruled out for the remainder of the campaign with a serious knee injury.
Hayden had started 22 of Newcastle’s 29 top-flight fixtures prior to his injury issue, meaning Bruce has a sizeable gap to fill in the Magpies engine room.
Journalist Kennedy put this problem to the Newcastle fans, asking them what they thought of his suggestion for one of the Longstaff brothers to be given a chance, and they were largely in agreement.
“Ask our fanbase who THEY would choose, it would be one of the Longstaffs. Ask our fanbase who WILL play, we all know the answer. So frustrating Liam”
“First choice Sean 2nd Matty 3rd the corner flag 4th anybody else who wants to play centre mid 5th Hendrick.”
“Matty 100% In some matches try sean alongside him with Willock further forward. Drop Shelvey or rotate with sean but don’t play Hendrick. Or use a Longstaff with Willock in a 2 of 4231 Try Anderson at no.10 behind Wilson with Miggy/Fraser and ASM wide.”
“I’d love to see Matty Longstaff have a solid run in the side however, I think Bruce will end up going with Hendrick. Unfortunately.”
“100% either of them is better than the useless Jeff Hendricks, I’ve seen better players than Hendricks playing Sunday league”
“Matty the 2 games he’s played this season he’s been one of our better players, mind-blowing how Bruce has treat him!”
After enjoying successful breakout campaigns in 2019/20, Matty and Sean Longstaff have found their chances extremely limited under Bruce this time around. The local lads have made just 14 Premier League starts between them this season, and former Burnley man Jeff Hendrick seems the more likely solution to Hayden’s absence in Bruce’s eyes, although the Newcastle fans evidently disagree.