Sean Longstaff discusses the help Matt Ritchie provides at Newcastle

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The Newcastle United prospect turns to the 30-year-old to get advice on off-the-pitch matters.

Newcastle United youngster Sean Longstaff has discussed the help he gets from teammate Matt Ritchie in dealing with speculation and hype, speaking to the club’s official website.

It was a long summer transfer for the 21-year-old, with regular headlines linking him with a blockbuster big money move to Manchester United.

Ultimately nothing transpired on that front, but the whole situation was naturally a new experience for the midfielder. It was one that took a bit of getting used to.

Fortunately for Longstaff, he is surrounded by experienced and grounded professionals at St James’ Park and he’s singled out one man in particular for providing guidance.

Speaking to nufc.co.uk, he explained: “I speak to Matty Ritchie a lot, he’s someone I lean on in the squad. He tends to keep us grounded and he’s always there with good bits of advice.

“Sometimes you can get distracted by figures that are thrown out there and you’re doing things you wouldn’t normally try to do.

“I think I spoke to him about it and he said the reason people are speaking about you is because of what you did and keep everything so simple and ticking along and you’ve got the other stuff there if you need it.”

Ritchie being Ritchie

The 30-year-old certainly appears to be an ever-increasing influence on players and others around him behind the scenes at Newcastle.

Considering he is the consummate professional, that must be pleasing to hear for the Magpies’ supporters.

Steve Bruce spoke earlier this week about his return from what could’ve been a fairly lengthy injury, revealing that the winger is already running well ahead of schedule.

That kind of dedication is something Newcastle need, especially if they’re going to be at the sharp end of the English Premier League this season.

The Longstaff speculation is easily something that could have got out of hand with regards to the player’s happiness and development, but Ritchie was on hand to calm him down and keep him focused on immediate challenges ahead.

It’s important to remember that Longstaff has still only played 17 matches for the senior first-team. Despite showing obvious potential, he is still a novice learning his trade and will continue to need the help and support of others at Newcastle.