The Newcastle United youngster still hasn’t resolved his contract dispute with the club and hasn’t featured since the resumption of the Premier League.
Big Week
He’s set to ‘crunch talks’ this week, as reported by Lee Ryder in the Chronicle, ahead of interest by Italian side Udinese.
Head coach Steve Bruce has said that he wants to get this matter over and done with as quickly as possible, and it’s certainly not doing the team or the supporters any favours.
As if Newcastle fans don’t have enough to occupy their thoughts with as the takeover saga drags into another month.
Need Him?
Longstaff hasn’t played in the last eight games, while he hasn’t even been in the squad for the last six. With Newcastle going unbeaten since football restarted, is there even space in the side?
Well the Magpies were doing badly, this would only heighten the urgency to get him into the side. But with a midfield that contains Jonjo Shelvey, Isaac Hayden, Matty’s brother Sean Longstaff and loan man Nabil Bentalab, is there even place for Matty in the side?
Not Good
He’s certainly not doing himself any favours at the moment. The best way to secure that new, lucrative deal would be to get in the side, play well and prove himself to be a Premier League footballer who deserves 30,000 a week.
There’s been a lot of noise around the ginger youngster, and while he’s certainly got some potential, Bruce could perhaps see a way to move forward without him.
One thing he’s got going for him is his homegrown status. No club in the world wants to lose the best players from their Academy, and Longstaff (both of them) were much overdue good news stories.
But things have moved on and it’s no longer as straightforward as it once was.