Newcastle midfielder Matty Longstaff is out of contract this summer (Getty Images)
According to Daily Mail, Newcastle United boss Steve Bruce, fears that the uncertainty surrounding the contract stand-off of Matty Longstaff might have affected him.
Bruce also added that he wanted players who are committed to the club. Though Bruce admitted that he had concerns regarding Longstaff’s state of mind and commitment, he denied suggestions that was the reason for him not featuring in the side in their last couple of matches.
A Newcastle academy product, 20-year-old Longstaff’s current contract at St James Park is set to expire at the end of this season. The Magpies had even offered their young midfielder a new deal, however, Longstaff is yet to make a decision. (h/t Daily Mail)
Meanwhile, Longstaff who played for Newcastle’s under-23 side was promoted to the first-team setup just last summer. The local lad was an instant hit among the fans after he helped Newcastle secure a win against rivals Manchester United by scoring the only goal of the match back in October.
Since then, he has featured in eight more matches for the Magpies in the Premier League, scoring once again in their away fixture against United. Though Newcastle lost that match 4-1, Longstaff put in a fine performance in the midfield and showcased his ability to attack and score goals despite playing as a defensive midfielder.
His excellent displays in the midfield saw him also feature five times in the FA Cup and once in the EFL Cup in his breakthrough season for his boyhood club. To date, he has appeared a total of 15 times for Newcastle across all competitions and has three goals to his name, proving that he is clear talent.
Meanwhile, manager Bruce had come under a lot of criticism after he opted to play Swiss centre-back Fabian Schar instead of Longstaff in Newcastle’s 2-1 defeat to Watford last Saturday.
Though Bruce replied to the criticisms by suggesting that he had chosen to go with Schar due to his physicality and experience of playing in the midfield for Switzerland, that does not solve their issues in the holding midfield role.
Apart from young Longstaff, Newcastle just have Isaac Hayden in that position. Thus, losing a player like Longstaff will hurt the side badly next season. Moreover, he is a local boy and has the support of fans.
Having proved himself already this season, Longstaff can also save the Magpies a lot of time and money which they otherwise would have to spend in search of a new player. Thus, Newcastle should try offering him a new contract and keep him at the club.
Newcastle clearly have a dearth of defensive midfielders at the moment. And losing Longstaff on a free transfer at this point would be ill-advised. The youngster has proved his potential in such a short duration. Given time he can grow to be the future star of the team.
Also, he is only 20 and can develop further under the guidance of a coach like Bruce. Hence, Newcastle should do everything possible to hold onto their academy talent.
