Sean Longstaff has just delivered his brutally honest verdict on Newcastle’s start to the season

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Newcastle United midfielder Sean Longstaff is expecting a big response from the Magpies after the international break.

It has been a really disappointing start to the campaign for Newcastle, who have managed to pick up just three points from their opening four games. Three defeats on the spin have been tough to take, but the fixture list has been rather unkind to Eddie Howe’ side.

Despite that, Newcastle still would have hoped for more than three points, and will be desperate for this international break to end so that they can try get back to winning ways.

That is the hope for Longstaff, who has spent a lot of the new season watching on from the sidelines. He is yet to start a Premier League game, although he has came off the bench in each of Newcastle’s four fixtures so far.

The 26-year-old has now addressed the Magpies’ tough start to the season, and has admitted that the players will use this break to reflect on what has gone wrong.

Sean Longstaff reflects on Newcastle’s ‘tough start’

A few days after the defeat to Brighton, Longstaff has addressed fans via his official Instagram account.

He wrote: “Tough start against some top teams, but time to reflect and get ready for a big response after the break.”

Chance for Longstaff to start after the international break

It is a time for the players to reflect, and it is also a time for Howe to reflect. He must be considering changes to his side for the upcoming game against Brentford.

And one player who has a chance of starting is Longstaff. While he is not the flashiest player on Tyneside, it is clear that we are missing him in midfield.

He will hopefully be restored to the starting XI when we face the Bees on September 16th, either in place of Sandro Tonali or Joelinton. The former feels more likely, but it arguably should be the latter. Joelinton has not looked at his best this season, while he has been struggling for fitness too.

We are missing Longstaff’s intensity and drive in the middle of the park, and he is a much better starter than an impact player on the bench.

As he reflects on Newcastle’s tough start to the season, hopefully Howe is figuring out how to get the local lad back in his starting lineup.