Matty Longstaff is reportedly set to leave Newcastle United on transfer deadline day.
According to reporter Peter O’Rourke, the midfielder is going to join League Two side Mansfield Town on loan.
It’ll be a second loan spell of the season for Longstaff, who joined Aberdeen in the previous transfer window. However, his temporary spell in Scotland was an absolute disaster.
He had agreed to spend the entire season at Pittodrie, but returned to Newcastle on January 1st. Longstaff only made five appearances for Aberdeen, unable to force his way into Stephen Glass’ midfield.
The move up north didn’t go to plan at all, and now it looks like Longstaff is going to try his luck at a different club in the second half of the season.
He did recently travel to Saudi Arabia with the Newcastle team, and featured in the friendly win over Al-Ittihad. However, that looks set to be his final appearance in a black and white shirt for at least a few months.
League Two loan for Matty Longstaff
Signing for Aberdeen felt like a big deal for Longstaff. While some question the standard of Scottish football, the Dons are a decent team.
So to be going from the Scottish Premiership to the fourth tier of English football is quite a shock. It’s hardly a ringing endorsement of a midfielder who’s got Premier League experience. He’s even got two goals in the top flight, both coming against Manchester United in the 2019/20 campaign.
Mansfield are currently fifth in League Two, battling for promotion to League One. If Longstaff does join, he’ll become teammates with Magpies cult hero James Perch.
This could be a defining loan spell for the 21-year-old. If this doesn’t go well, it could be curtains for his first-team hopes at Newcastle.
If he can’t succeed in League Two, what chance does he have at St James’ Park? The pressure is well and truly on for the younger Longstaff brother.
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