Longstaff can go the distance

MO Diame believes that Sean Longstaff does not look out of place in Newcastle United’s first team squad.

A loan move to Portsmouth for 20-year-old midfielder was blocked earlier in the summer with interest from Rotherham United also dismissed in recent times.

Longstaff is fighting for a place on the bench ahead of this weekend’s game with Chelsea due to Isaac Hayden’s suspension following a red card in the 0-0 draw with Cardiff City. Diame feels Longstaff

is in with a chance of getting a Premier League debut in the next few weeks but warned he must stay focused and work hard in training.

Diame said: “Sean is training very well. He is a quality player and we can all see that.

“He can give good passes and in training he scores lots of goals.

“He is a good player but he needs to keep working.

“I think he is in the right hands with Rafa Benitez to do that.”

Diame and Jonjo Shelvey have started the season as expected with Ki Sung-yueng also a challenger for one of their positions.

The retired Senegal international said: “We know Ki’s quality, he has shown that already.

“He has played in the Premier League. He will bring competition to the squad and in training everybody has to work hard to compete.”

The internal battle for places is well under way at Newcastle, something that fills Diame with confidence that it can still be a good campaign – despite a shaky start.

He added: “We have spent two years together now as a squad and we know what we are about.

“Everybody wants to fight together as a team. “There’s no problems here. “If we keep battling hard like we did last season they we know we will be OK.”