Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has revealed that Sean Longstaff could be out for a while with an ankle injury.
The midfielder has been sidelined since the 4-1 win over Everton last month and Howe says that, despite initially believing it was a minor problem, it could turn out to be something more serious:
“I certainly hope we will see Sean Longstaff again this season but on the specialist’s advice, he’s going to see another specialist on Tuesday, to get it double-checked. We thought it was quite a standard injury – a bruise, now there may be a chance it’s something a bit more serious than that but we are in the dark at the moment.”
“Sean Longstaff has been an integral part of our midfield and I think that when you take him out, we lose a bit of balance. I think the balance of the team has been so impressive and Sean does a really important job. both in and out of possession for us.”
As Howe explains, Longstaff does bring a good deal of stability in the middle of the park when he plays, and fans on Twitter are worried about how their team will cope without him in the final four games of the season:
Oh t’riffic 😏
— Seels (@SeelsyA) May 7, 2023
That’s a problem if he is out for us. We simply aren’t the same in midfield without him, and it doesn’t help that Bruno is obviously suffering with his injury.
— Alan1967 (@Alan19673) May 7, 2023
Season over then, europa league it is
— Sam (@joelellie_) May 7, 2023
All from a foul that wasn’t even give as a pen
— Ben Whiteley (@Ben98whiteley) May 7, 2023
That mite be his season over then☹️
— Davenufc (@daveruth890) May 7, 2023
Fantastic ffs
— Kieren Wilkinson (@KierenW6) May 7, 2023
— 𝘼𝙙𝙖𝙢 (@AdamLittle99) May 7, 2023
Can’t get over how unorganised the midfield is without him 😩 maybe try Anderson in there against Leeds
— Rhys (@tuc76049437) May 7, 2023
Season over
— fan of sven botman (@nufc__ollie) May 7, 2023
Longstaff has been very impressive this season. Like many of the squad, the midfielder has benefited from working under Howe, who has got the best out of him.
Whether Champions League qualification has been put in jeopardy by Longstaff’s absence, we shall have to wait and see. The Magpies are currently two points above Manchester United and three clear of Liverpool in fifth with a game in hand.