Newcastle United’s current position of third in the Premier League table owes much, of course, to a series of inspired signings made since last year’s Saudi Arabian takeover.
But, regardless of the impact made by Bruno Guimaraes, Nick Pope, Kieran Trippier and co, the outstanding coaching of Eddie Howe has played just as big a part in the Magpies’ remarkable transformation from relegation dodgers to Champions League chasers.
This is, after all, still a Newcastle side containing Jacob Murphy, Joelinton, Fabian Schar and the suddenly-prolific Miguel Almiron. Jonjo Shelvey and Ryan Fraser too. Emil Krafth, meanwhile, was playing the best football of his Newcastle career before that long-term injury.
And though Sean Longstaff obviously hasn’t lived up to the potential that saw him linked with a £50 million move to Manchester United back in 2019, he too has been a man reborn and revitalised since Howe’s game-changing arrival on the banks of the Tyne 14 months ago.
Sean Longstaff is ‘becoming a superstar’ at Newcastle United
“Longstaff won’t be a name where you go; ‘he’s a superstar’. But he’s becoming that,” the Northallerton-born former England interantional Michael Dawson told Sky Sports.
“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?
“Longstaff, I love. I love his energy. The rest of the 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. 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.”
If Newcastle are to truly establish themselves amongst the Premier League’s elite, however, some difficult decisions may need to be made with players like Longstaff. Yes, he’s come on leaps and bounds under Howe. But can he really step up his game again, and become a regular at the heart of a team fighting for Champions League qualification season-in, season-out?
Moises Caicedo would be an upgrade
Reports from The Sun linking the Magpies with Brighton and Hove Albion’s £70 million-rated enforcer Moises Caicedo suggest that Newcastle are not going to let loyalty and sentimentality stand in the way of progress. Caicedo, after all, is pretty much Longstaff 2.0. An upgraded edition.
A player who possesses all of Longstaff’s strengths, while boasting superior quality on the ball and far greater defensive numbers. Caicedo’s average of 3.1 tackles per game (WhoScored) is far better than Longstaff’s 1.1. His 87 per cent pass completion rate, meanwhile, is also superior to Longstaff’s 81 per cent.
“He’s going to be a top player. He’s only 21,” Newcastle legend Alan Shearer told the BBC ahead of Ecuador’s World Cup opener against Qatar last month.
“He can do a little bit of everything. He’s athletic, he can tackle, he can pass, he can read the game (and) scores one or two goals.”
Replacing Longstaff, during some of the best form of his career, may seem more than a little harsh. But that is the price of progress.
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