Michael Dawson feels Sean Longstaff is becoming a ‘superstar’ after offering an influential role in Newcastle United’s campaign. The midfielder has not missed a match yet this term.
Longstaff has blown Dawson away with his efforts in Eddie Howe’s engine room so far this term. The 25-year-old has featured in each of the Magpies’ 14 Premier League fixtures and their two Carabao Cup ties. He has also scored one goal and assisted two in the top-flight.
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The Magpies product had faced an uncertain future at his boyhood club earlier in the year. His contract was due to expire on June 30 and The Telegraph reported in May that he had rejected new terms. Longstaff was seeking assurances over his minutes after a tough term.
Longstaff featured for just 1,607 minutes through 26 appearances across all competitions in 2021/22. He also only amassed 792 minutes through 14 outings with Howe at the helm. Yet he agreed to a new three-year contract at the end of May and is now a key part of the team.
Howe has started the Newcastle native in 10 Premier League and two Carabao Cup games. Longstaff also featured off the bench in the four top-flight affairs that he did not open. He has not missed any starting line-ups since a 1-1 draw with Bournemouth on September 17.
Sean Longstaff is now becoming a ‘superstar’ at Newcastle for Michael Dawson
Since the Cherries’ trip to Tyneside, Longstaff has played the full 90 minutes in all seven of Newcastle’s Premier League games. He also heard the final whistle after starting the three top-flight matches prior. Howe only let him play 90 minutes during seven games last term.
Longstaff has earned his prominent role in Howe’s side having excelled during Newcastle’s terrific start to the season. The Toon product has delivered some gritty displays as he gets stuck into the midfield duel. His defensive contributions have proven to be very important.
So much so that Dawson told Sky Sports News (12/11, 13:19) that the Newcastle team will love having Longstaff involved. He believes the midfielder is now on course to becoming a ‘superstar’ at St James’. Even if his efforts can slide under the radar as others are praised.
He said: “Longstaff won’t be a name where you go he’s a superstar but he’s becoming that. He’s becoming so influential in Newcastle’s team. We always said when Allan Saint-Maximin wasn’t there, how were they going to win games? How were they going to create?
“[Miguel] Almiron has been brilliant but Longstaff, I love. I love his energy, he’s one of those players that on the eye that you don’t see on the ball. I’ll tell you what, the rest of them players in that Newcastle team will love having him in the team.
“He gets in the mix, he wins the ball back, he plays it forward. Be it [Jacob] Murphy, if it be [Joe] Willock, whoever it may be – he’s the ball-winner. Bruno Guimaraes gets on the ball and looks lovely, great player. But Longstaff is one of those players you need.”
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