Allan Saint-Maximin was the hero, but there were multiple Newcastle players who deserve huge credit for the win against Burnley. One of them is Sean Longstaff.
The midfielder was everywhere. He must have covered every blade of grass at Turf Moor.
Particularly in the second half, his work off the ball was incredible.
Longstaff returned to the side last week, and retained his position after a decent performance against Spurs.
But he was even better against Burnley, with his energy in the middle relieving the pressure at key moments in the second half.
He almost had a big impact in the first half as well. The midfielder should have received a penalty after getting a boot in the face, yet somehow James Tarkowski’s kick to head was deemed legal.
Fortunately, it did not matter as Saint-Maximin inspired a fantastic comeback from the Magpies.
At times Longstaff can leave a lot to be desired on the ball. But his work off the ball has been vital in the absence of Isaac Hayden.
The 23-year-old has struggled over the past couple of seasons, unable to recapture the form he showed when he first burst onto the scene.
But we’re starting to see signs of the old Sean Longstaff, and fans have heaped praise on him after a key performance in the fight for survival.
Toon fans hail Longstaff’s incredible work rate
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