PREMIER LEAGUE

Benitez backing Toon starlet Longstaff to join 3 Lions kids.. then step up to the seniors

RAFA BENITEZ is backing Sean Longstaff to play his way into the England system.

Newcastle’s promising young midfielder has never represented his country, but was watched by Under-21 chief Aidy Boothroyd in the win over Huddersfield on Saturday.

Longstaff (right, with Benitez) is in the frame to earn a place in his kids’ squad for the Euros in Italy in the summer - but the competition is fierce.

However Longstaff has become a regular in Newcastle’s side in the last two months, and is racking up the minutes in the

Premier League – which England chiefs often complain doesn’t happen enough.

Benitez has warned Longstaff, 21, to stay focused, and ahead of tonight’s clash with Burnley he said: “He wouldn’t look out of place. I think he will go.

“The main thing, for me, is to keep him calm and keep him working as hard as he is now.

“I like to see my players going to the national team, but it has to be the right one. I don’t care if it’s U-20, 21s or even the senior side, but he needs to go one step at a time.

“Sean is humble, professional and focused. He is a player who can be consistent. If we start talking too much about him, and how well he is doing every week, then it is always young players.

“There are not too many English players with his quality. I saw him in training and saw how good he was technically. He was doing left-foot, rightfoot finishes into the bottom corner.

“His vision is good, there are just a few things he has to improve. He has listened to us and is learning quickly. The staff in the academy were also doing a very good job with him.” Benitez, who has distanced himself from the Leicester job, after Claude Puel’s sacking, says record signing Miguel Almiron

(above) is “not scared” of a tackle after being nobbled during his home debut.

Benitez added:

“He’s very quick and then he’s trying also to be in the tackles, so he’s not someone who is scared.” a risk for