Newcastle United have had to rely on very few players this season.
The injury crisis Eddie Howe has endured at Newcastle has rarely seemed to subside and was made even worse over the course of the international break following Sven Botman’s second serious injury of the campaign.
Given the lack of available numbers, players have had to keep going.
Kieran Trippier, after all, could surely have done with a rest during the difficult period he endured around the turn of the year.
Still, there were few other options to replace him, as has been the case with Dan Burn – a defender who continues to divide opinion.
That brings us to Sean Longstaff.
The midfielder has been playing through an injury this season and Howe even confirmed he would have taken Longstaff out of the side were there many other options to replace him.
The 26-year-old has not exactly been in stellar form recently but Howe has launched a stirring defence of him.
Sean Longstaff is no longer playing through injury
Speaking to The Chronicle ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash with West Ham, Howe hailed Longstaff as Newcastle’s “unsung hero” and claimed the injury issue he was playing through has now dissipated.
“Sean would probably say that he is now in a good place physically,” he said.
“I don’t think he is playing with an injury now, he has done at certain times. This season he has put himself on the pitch when carrying a problem. I think Sean is a slight unsung hero anyway.”
Sean Longstaff can be a useful squad option for Newcastle
Longstaff has been a valuable member of Howe’s squad in the manager’s turning around of Newcastle United.
Handed the captaincy earlier this season, it’s clear that Howe values Longstaff.
While he may not always convince as a regular starter, he wouldn’t be that in an ideal world. With Sandro Tonali back at some point next season, the midfield will have more options and perhaps Longstaff could be rotated more often.
He’s clearly someone Howe sees a future for, even if him consistently starting perhaps indicates Newcastle aren’t at their strongest.
Seemingly over his injury issues, it will be interesting to see the level of his form from here.
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