Journalist Andrew Musgrove has claimed that Sean Longstaff’s Newcastle United future looks bleak amidst Jonjo Shelvey nearing a return.
Longstaff has become one of the dependable and regulars under Eddie Howe this season featuring in every game across all competitions and has played every single minute of the last four league matches.
However, with the return of Jonjo Shelvey to the bench on Wednesday night, Howe now has a whole load of options in midfield to play alongside Bruno Guimaraes and Musgrove believes Longstaff won’t be in that conversation once Shelvey is back to full fitness.
Musgrove made the bold claim about Longstaff’s future in the starting lineup at Newcastle while speaking on the Everything is Black and White podcast.
(43:45) “You’ve got Shelvey now back on the bench, I think when he is back and that will hopefully come before the World Cup break, and if everyone else is fit, I personally, unless Sean Longstaff steps up in the next couple of games, I don’t think he’s even in the discussion about who the first-choice midfield three are.”
Is Longstaff good enough to start for NUFC?
Yes!
No!
TIF Thoughts on Longstaff’s Newcastle future…
While Musgrove may not have a lot of confidence in Longstaff moving forward, the midfielder and Howe certainly do as he was awarded a new contract not too long ago which secured his long-term future with the club.
Having signed that new contract, Longstaff and Howe will have discussed what his role is and if that was just a bench option, it’s unlikely the midfielder would’ve signed such a long-term extension.
However, given the competition from the likes of Joelinton, Shelvey, Joe Willock and Elliot Anderson, it appears that Longstaff has a tough battle on his hands to maintain a spot in the starting lineup for his boyhood club, but that level of competition will likely be very welcomed by Howe.