Sean Longstaff admits he was totally shocked by decision Eddie Howe made vs Man United

Add as preferred source on Google

November 1st 2023 will be a date that lives long in the memory for Newcastle United midfielder Sean Longstaff.

Not only did he help Newcastle beat Manchester United 3-0 in the Carabao Cup, but it was also his 150th appearance for the club.

And not only that, but Sean Longstaff was captain on the night.

In the absence of Jamaal Lascelles and Kieran Trippier, the 26-year-old was given the honour of leading the Magpies out at Old Trafford, as they went on to record a famous victory.

The armband inspired Longstaff to produce a steady and measured performance, and after the game Howe explained that he gave the captaincy to him as he felt he deserved it. Howe believes that Longstaff is captain material, so we will likely see him with the armband again in the future.

For Longstaff, the decision to name him captain came as a shock, and he has now shared the true story of what happened behind the scenes when he discovered he was going to lead the team out.

Sean Longstaff was shocked to be named Newcastle captain

After the 3-0 win over Man United, Longstaff spoke to NUFC TV. He discussed when he found out he was going to be captaining Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup contest.

“Miggy, Joe and Bruno were sat there and said ‘are you captain tonight’,” he said.

“I was like ‘nah, not me, it’ll be Dummy’. Then literally just before we went out Tommo put the armband on me. I thought it was for Bobby Charlton. I thought everyone had a black armband on.

“Then I looked down and it was the captain’s armband. I was like ‘whoa, what’s gannin’ on here’.

“I didn’t expect it. I thanked the manager after the game. To be from Newcastle and represent the city is such a special thing to lead them out, especially at such an iconic ground like Old Trafford.

“It’s a massive thing. It’s a real privilege. Not many people get to do it. To experience it tonight was amazing. It helped me keep my head a little bit more. I can get a bit angry and shout at people, but with the armband on you’ve got that extra responsibility.”

Captaincy made Longstaff better

It is interesting to hear how having the armband impacted Longstaff’s performance. He believes he played with a bit more responsibility and calmness, and that was evident when you watched him.

The midfielder will not be captain every week, but it will be interesting to see if he has learned any lessons from his night with the armband. It could propel Longstaff to even greater heights, which is a tantalising prospect.

He has enjoyed some special moments in 2023, from guiding Newcastle to Wembley with a brace in the Carabao Cup semi final to scoring against PSG in the Champions League. Now he has captained his boyhood club, as Toon life continues to get better and better for Sean Longstaff.