Matty Longstaff became an instant fan favourite on his debut and nobody was happier than his brother Sean.
Matty Longstaff scored the winner against the Red Devils in the second half and lifted the spirits around St James’ Park.
The 5-0 thrashing against Leicester had damped the mood, but a local boy making a name for himself on the big stage was exactly what Newcastle United needed before the international break.
Matty’s brother Sean was evidently delighted about his brother’s debut and gave an insight on what went on in the Longstaff household on the night before the big game.
He said: “Matty has been the best player in training and he was a breath of fresh air. I couldn’t be prouder of him. Look how lively he was, he made my job a lot easier. He was really quiet last night, he’s usually bouncing around the house shouting. I’ve never heard him so quiet!”
The teenager was making steady progress behind the scenes for the Magpies but Steve Bruce deserves a ton of credit for being brave with his selection. Isaac Hayden’s suspension due to his red card against Leicester last week certainly opened the door for Longstaff and he certainly grabbed it with both hands.
The win pushed Newcastle above the drop zone into 16th place on the league table, just one point behind their opponents on the night, Manchester United. Longstaff has certainly made a huge claim for a starting spot in the centre of Newcastle’s midfield and Isaac Hayden’s eventual return to action will give Bruce a big headache in terms of team selection.
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