SECOND TYNE AROUND
Longstaff dreams of repeating his stunning winner over the Reds
WHEN Newcastle play their third home game of the new season, one player will definitely be ready for a repeat performance.
On October 17, Matty Longstaff will once more try to bring down Manchester United and this time he could do it with a big future ahead of him at St James’ Park.
The midfielder will never forget the corresponding fixture last season when, 18 minutes from the end on October 6, he struck on his Premier League debut (right) to give Steve Bruce’s side a famous 1-0 victory.
As the new season edges closer, Longstaff is set to sign a new long-term deal at his hometown club, having looked certain to leave when contract talks collapsed earlier this summer.
Bruce has assured the midfielder he will be a key member of his squad, despite the imminent arrival of Jeff Hendrick, a free agent having left Burnley. Newcastle will remain one of the stories of the season because their future off the pitch could take another twist.
Premier League chief Richard Masters insists the door remains open for Amanda Staveley’s Saudibacked consortium to revive talks after a deal collapsed last month.
Masters met up with representatives of the Newcastle United Supporters’ Trust and claimed the arbitration offer was still on the table, despite the consortium pulling out.
In a question-andanswer session with members of NUST, Masters denied outside influences had blocked the deal and reiterated his claim that the ball was in the Saudis’ court if they wanted to resurrect it.
Just for good measure, following his heroics last October, 20-year-old Longstaff also found the net in the return fixture against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Boxing Day – only this time Newcastle lost 4-1.