Brothers in arms
NEWCASTLE United’s Academy system hasn’t had too many success stories in recent times, but this season there could be something to shout about down at Little Benton.
For this could be the year in which a pair of promising brothers play in the same side for the Magpies.
Central midfielder Sean Longstaff (20) has already broke into the firstteam squad and has been told to fight for his place while his younger brother Matty Longstaff (18) found himself promoted to the Under-23 squad after showing promise in the youth team last season.
The pair’s big opportunity to play in the same XI together could come in this year’s Checkatrade Trophy with games against Doncaster Rovers, Notts County and Grimsby Town on the fixture list.
Sean, who spent last season on loan at Blackpool, has impressed in pre-season to the point that Newcastle scrapped a planned loan deal for the attacking midfielder to head to Portsmouth in League One.
Matty is more of a holding midfielder and is being scouted by England Under-20s.
Both will be used by United in different ways this season but there is a chance of both Longstaff brothers running the midfield in this year’s Checkatrade as Sean qualifies to play in the competition as he is still Under-21, and two first-team members can be used on match nights.
The youngsters were spotted by scouts playing for North Shields AFC Juniors.
If they were to play in the same match as brothers they would be the first to do so for United since 2011 when Shola Ameobi and Sammy Ameobi starred together in a 2-2 draw at Chelsea.
Before that the last brothers to play for United were Matty and Ritchie Appleby in an Anglo-Italian