Sean Longstaff admits he ‘got a bit lucky’ during Newcastle’s pre-season

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Sean Longstaff has played an incredible amount of football this season for Newcastle United, and believes Jonjo Shelvey is partially the reason why.

Newcastle have played 30 games so far this season, and Longstaff has featured in every one. Of those 30 games, the 25-year-old has started in 26 of them.

The academy graduate has played more than fans anticipated, and has improved massively. He is a much better player now, with Eddie Howe working his magic on a midfielder who was linked with leaving at the start of last year.

But Longstaff has worked incredibly hard to become an integral part of Howe’s team, and now seems certain to start for the Magpies against Manchester United in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final.

That is a testament to how well he has done this season, but Longstaff believes it might not have been possible had it not been for an incident during pre-season.

Sean Longstaff thinks Jonjo Shelvey injury pushed him up the Newcastle pecking order

Longstaff has spoke to BBC Newcastle ahead of the Carabao Cup final, and discussed his role in Howe’s side.

“Obviously I got a bit lucky in pre-season with Jonjo getting injured and pushed me up the pecking order a little bit,” he said.

“Because of the players we brought in, I always knew once I got in the team I was confident in my ability stay in.

“I’ve been lucky to do that so far and hopefully the manager’s confidence in me is growing and growing every week.”

Longstaff has made the most of every opportunity

Longstaff is right. He probably wouldn’t have played so much had it not been for Shelvey’s injury back in July. He was forced off in a friendly against Benfica with a hamstring injury that ruled him out until October.

That meant Longstaff was suddenly the first reserve for Howe’s three-man midfield, and quickly got a chance to start when Bruno Guimaraes picked up a knock.

The local lad has kicked on since then, and has pretty much been an ever-present in the Newcastle starting XI.

Had Shelvey not got injured, it probably would have been him who came into the side. And if that had happened, he may not have left the club in January to join Nottingham Forest.

Longstaff thinks he got lucky during the summer, but it is his hard work and determination that has meant he made the most of the good fortune that came his way.