After making his return from injury on Sunday afternoon, Sean Longstaff showed exactly why he simply has to be one of the first names on the team-sheet for Newcastle.
It was only just a couple of months ago that Steve Bruce laid down the gauntlet to his midfielder, insisting that he’s still got some way to go to recapture his best form.
He said: “Sean is in the last two years of his contract – we all know what capabilities he’s got he’s got to show it more often and more regularly. He’s got a lot of work to do, but he’s got healthy competition around him.”
But with his return to fitness, and Jonjo Shelvey being ruled out with injury, Longstaff had his opportunity to impress against Everton. And he didn’t disappoint in their Premier League clash.
Whilst Callum Wilson was the Magpies’ match-winner with two goals to secure all three points at St James’ Park, it was Longstaff’s midfield display that really set the tone for Bruce’s side.
As per Sofascore, his 7.3 match rating was the joint-second highest of any Newcastle player, only behind Wilson. And when you look at the underlying numbers behind his performance, it’s no surprise to see why.
Defensively, he stuck to his task well, making two tackles, one clearance and winning three duels. But it was his work on the ball that really caught the eye for Newcastle.
He boasted an impressive 88% pass accuracy, whilst he was also one of their most creative forces on the day as well, providing a team-high two key passes.
Not to mention the fact that he also completed three of his four attempted crosses, and found the mark with five of his seven long balls. That all led to The Chronicle journalist, Mark Douglas, to rave that Longstaff was enjoying his “best game for a while” on Twitter.
With Shelvey out of action for the foreseeable future, Longstaff surely has to keep his place in the starting line-up for the weeks ahead.