Sean Longstaff plan v Newcastle United revealed as Leeds United boosted by return of 2 key players
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Newcastle United latest news: Leeds United have been boosted by the return of a key duo ahead of their trip to St James’ Park.
Leeds United head to St James’ Park on Wednesday night aiming to extend their seven match unbeaten run in the Premier League.
Daniel Farke’s side drew 1-1 with Manchester United on Sunday to extend their unbeaten run in what was, coincidentally, Ruben Amorim’s final match in charge of the Red Devils. Leeds’ good run of form has lifted them to 16th in the table and eight points above the drop zone ahead of tonight’s huge game between West Ham and Nottingham Forest at the London Stadium.
Farke’s side will be a tough nut for the Magpies to crack when they line-up opposite each other at St James’ Park, especially considering they will welcome back two key players for their trip to the north east.
Sean Longstaff plan v Newcastle United revealed
Farke will have both Sean Longstaff and Ethan Ampadu available to him on Tyneside on Wednesday night. Longstaff had missed over a month of action with a calf injury, but was a surprise inclusion on the bench at Elland Road on Sunday.
Ampadu, meanwhile, was suspended at the weekend after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season during their draw with Liverpool a few days prior. The Welshman is expected to slot straight back into the starting XI at St James’ Park.
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Longstaff, meanwhile, will not come straight back into Farke’s midfield against his former club. The 28-year-old’s swift return to action has even surprised his manager, who admitted he is planning on using him during their FA Cup tie against Derby County at the weekend.
Farke, though, did admit that Longstaff could feature at his old stomping ground in some capacity on Wednesday night.
“Sean, if I am honest, my plan was to involve him for the first time in the FA Cup game because he was out for slightly more than six weeks,” Farke said ahead of his side’s trip to the north east.
“Normally with a player like this after such an injury you like at least a full week of training. But Sean is such an important player for us, not just on the pitch but off the pitch with his personality in the dressing room.
“Particularly when other key players are unavailable, it becomes crucial. Currently, we're not conducting full team training, but he has participated and had a significant session today. We'll see who's available.
“Ethan Ampadu will return which is vital for us. Sean stands a chance to rejoin the squad.
“He definitely won't play the full 90 minutes, certainly not starting, but perhaps a few minutes. We'll see who's available.”
In the reverse fixture between these teams at Elland Road back in August, Longstaff was one of the standout players on the park as he and his teammates held out for a point on just their third match back in the Premier League. This week, Newcastle United will hope that home advantage can help shift the odds of victory in their favour as they search for a third successive victory in the league following wins over Burnley and Crystal Palace either side of new year.