He’s one of wah own!
Life’s good for local lad Longstaff
Chief Newcastle writer SEAN Longstaff achieved a feat every Geordie has dreamed about this week - scoring a Premier League goal in front of big crowd at St James’ Park.
The 21-year-old’s rise from the club’s youth ranks to the first team has been refreshing for both Toon fans and supporters of the game in general.
Things are unfolding at a rapid rate for Longstaff as milestones have been ticked off recently.
First-team debut. Done. First start in Premier League. Done. First senior goal. Done. First Premier League goal. Done.
Fans are even devising crowd chants for him after he has proved to be an instant hit for the Magpies!
However, Longstaff - who scored goals galore in the youth ranks - is just delighted to register his first goal in the Prem after his strike against Burnley.
He told the Chronicle: “It is amazing, it is nice to make your debut.
“There are little milestones but there is also the one about getting your first Premier League goal. For me to do it is amazing.
“I think it helps it was on such an important night and we knew Burnley were in very good form and one of the in-form teams in the Premier League.
“However, throughout the night we dominated the game and created a lot of chances.
“We were pretty good and in the second half they came out stronger and tried to put us under pressure.
“We kept their chances to a minimum.
“The Premier League table is a lot nicer to look at now.”
Longstaff is having no trouble to adjusting to life in the Premier League and is a popular member of the firstteam squad.
However, it was not too long ago he was scoring at St James’ Park for the club’s under-23 side.
Now he has completed the set by scoring for the first team and added: “It is not quite the same scoring in the reserves as when you do it in front of a full house.
“It is a pretty unique feeling. When it did hit the back of the net it was just raw emotion coming out.
“I did not really know what to do. My mam and dad sit in the corner to
the left of the Leazes End, and I ran to the right!
“I lost my mind for a few seconds. It was an unbelievable feeling but it was not just about me.
“A lot of people in the build-up gave me the space to get the goal.
“It helps it was on such an important night.
“Now we are looking up the table a little bit more but we know there is still a job to be done.
“We are in a much better position than we were at the start of the week.”
Longstaff ’s forward runs are an aspect of his game Newcastle fans have not seen much of at first-team level as he is playing in a more defensive role to his preferred position.
“Yet he has still managed two goals so far in the first team.
He said: “You want to get it (a first Premier League goal) sooner rather than later.
“I have been asked to play in a role and be a bit more defensive.
“I have been happy to do that as it has allowed me to get on the ball a bit more. It has allowed me to play a bit.
“However, there is something different about scoring goals, it is something any midfielder wants to try to do.
“It gives you another string to your bow. “For me it is about working hard.
“To get your first goal and for it to be in an important game with friends and family watching is amazing.” Longstaff will be looking to start at West Ham this weekend but ended the game against Burnley by being withdrawn for the closing stages. Benitez later explained he took te schemer off as Burnley players were preying on the fact the young midfielder was on a yellow card and trying to “play him.”
The midfielder reflected: “I am not going to question one of the best managers in the world. You could see why he did it.
“He brought Mo Diame on to help take some of the pressure off us.
“Mo is unbelievable on the ball and did a great job.
“He shows the strength in depth when you bring on somebody like Mo in the dying minutes.
“We are in a pretty good place at the moment.
“It is great for everybody and you can see there is a feelgood factor around the place. You hear the fans too.
“When Miguel came off you hear the place take off. We are playing some good stuff and creating a lot of chances.”
When it did hit the back of the net it was just raw emotion coming out. I did not really know what to do Sean Longstaff