Sean Longstaff has shone in eight Premier League starts for Newcastle United but he could’ve been in League One with Pompey instead.
Portsmouth winger Viv Solomon-Otabor has admitted that Newcastle United’s rising star Sean Longstaff nearly joined him at Fratton Park last summer and has piled praise on his former Blackpool team-mate, speaking to The News.
The 21-year-old midfielder has been a revelation since forcing his way into Rafa Benitez’s starting XI since the turn of the year, making eight Premier League starts and earning comparisons to the former Manchester United and England ace Michael Carrick – who was also born in the north east.
Longstaff also appeared to be in with an outside chance of a first England call-up before a knee injury brought a premature end to his debut season in Newcastle’s first team.
But Longstaff might have been playing League One football for Portsmouth instead. Speaking to The News, Solomon-Otabor has revealed that the youngster was on the verge of signing for Pompey before the start of the season.
The winger played alongside Longstaff at Blackpool last season and is more than aware of his considerable talents.
“He texted me at the start of the season and said he was supposed to be coming down here but he didn’t. He was going to come here but then he wasn’t allowed to go out on loan,” he said.
“You could see the potential in him then and his work ethic. He just wanted to improve. He’s a shy guy and probably expected it himself, but once he imposes himself on the pitch you just think ‘What a player’.
“He is a great player and it was a pleasure for me to play with him.”
Longstaff has made a dream start to life at St James’ Park and he will be hoping to return to the first-team when he recovers from injury.
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