The Magpies youngster is expected to be out for the rest of the Premier League season.
Newcastle United academy graduate Sean Longstaff has burst onto the scene this season under Rafael Benitez, making nine Premier League appearances and winning over fans with his combative and skilled performances (Transfermarkt).
The 21-year-old initially wasn’t in his manager’s plans at the start of the campaign, but with certain players having been either injured, out of form or otherwise unavailable, it opened the door for him in the first team and he definitely took the chance with both hands.
However, on Thursday, the club had to break some bad news to its fans in the shape of the talented youngster having suffered a potentially season-ending knee ligament injury.
Sad news for both Longstaff, who was progressing so nicely this term but will now have to focus on recovery, and the club, which experienced an upturn in form since his breakthrough, but this could herald the return of a player who has recently come back from injury.
Jonjo Shelvey won plaudits from the Newcastle fanbase after requesting to play for the Under-23s last Friday night against Fulham in a bid to step up his recovery from a long-term thigh injury, testament to a player who just wants to get his head down and do all he can to get back to his best.
He began for the Magpies at the Cottagers’ Motspur Park and was substituted just after the hour mark, but not before meeting Tom Allan’s cross with a diving header to give his side the lead and eventually a 1-0 win.
Shelvey has been linked with a move to West Ham at the end of the season (Telegraph), but with Longstaff having been ruled out, now is the time when he needs to step up, and given his request to play for the Under-23s reflecting a good attitude, he well could be the hero the Magpies need to beat the drop.
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