Newcastle United are looking to halt their losing run, with Manchester United next up for Eddie Howe’s side on Monday – and Sean Longstaff should start.
The Magpies have suffered defeats to Manchester City, Liverpool and Leicester City in their last three games, and really need a positive result.
It was always going to be a tough Christmas period.
Decisions have not been going Newcastle’s way, but the team have been poor.
Howe has got to try and get something in these last couple of games before the end of the year.
Just a few more points on the board could well mean better quality players are willing to make a move to the club next month.
Manchester United’s two last games against Brentford and Brighton were postponed. It will therefore be interesting to see what kind of team Ralf Rangnick will put out and if the Red Devils will be slightly rusty.
Newcastle have four players unavailable at the time of writing. One of those is Isaac Hayden, who picked up a fifth booking of the season against City.
Howe will therefore be forced into a midfield change, and he should probably look no further than Sean Longstaff.
The 24-year-old got his first minutes under Howe when he came on in the second-half against City on Sunday.
Seemingly so far, he hasn’t made as big an impression on Howe as other players.
Monday’s game could be his chance.
Eddie Howe should start Sean Longstaff against Manchester United
Hayden being suspended could be a golden chance for Longstaff to get back into the Newcastle starting XI.
Howe has so far shown a reluctance to use the academy graduate since coming in.
The manager recently called Longstaff ‘a very talented individual’ and ‘someone I really believe in’ (via Shields Gazzette).
He hasn’t started a game since October 30 against Chelsea, after starting the campaign fairly well.
But having gotten minutes against City, Longstaff will likely be champing at the bit.
There’s a chance he will want to prove a point to people, and maybe some Manchester United fans also, after he was linked with a £50 million transfer to Old Trafford in 2019.
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