Newcastle United teenager Sean Longstaff is being monitored by several Championship sides according to reports. The 19-year old is currently on loan at Scottish Premiership side Kilmarnock, having moved there in January this year and has been impressive.
The attacking midfielder is out of contract at the end of the season and is yet to agree new terms with Newcastle. And as a result, quite a number of Championship sides are watching his situation.
So who is Sean Longstaff? What will he add to the squad? Let’s find out.
Football Background
Born in 1997, Longstaff joined the Newcastle academy at a young age and came through the ranks quite rapidly. The nephew of the former Newcastle United great Alan Thompson, Longstaff broke into the Newcastle U-18 side in 2014-15, taking part in the FA Youth Cup. He also made 5 appearances in the U-21 Premier League same season. The campaign saw him establish himself as one of the key players of the Newcastle youth team in the U-21 Premier League. He made 19 appearances that season, scoring 2 goals and setting up one strike.
This season, however, he took it to an different level altogether, by scoring 6 goals and setting up 3 for his teammates from just 11 matches in the Premier League2 for the Newcastle U-23 side, before being shipped out to Kilmarnock on loan for the remainder of the season.
Upon landing in Scotland in January this year, he has continued to impress and has already netted 2 times in 8 appearances in the Scottish Premiership.
Style of Play
Longstaff is a versatile player who primarily operates as a central attacking midfielder, but can also slot in a classic No. 8 role or even play out wide on the left side. Known for his ability on the ball, the 19-year old is extremely smart with his decision making and brings a presence of control in the attack. He has the ability to take a shot at goal and can also find a teammate in the final third with his accurate passing. Standing at 1.81m, he possesses good height and puts it to good use in the box and also has decent pace.
What Does The Future Hold?
Longstaff, in his short professional career at Newcastle, has shown great potential and has shown signs that he could be a legitimate player for the Tyneside club in the future, as a creative, attacking central midfielder. He is proving his abilities with Kilmarnock in Scotland and hence the Magpies should do everything within their powers to get him to sign a new contract with the club, before other teams snap him up for free.