Steve Bruce names Newcastle United player with a 'big future' ahead of him

That’s the view of Steve Bruce ahead of tonight’s game against Leicester City at the King Power Stadium.

Longstaff returned to the starting XI early last month – and his recall coincided with an upturn in form.

The 23-year-old midfielder broke into the starting XI two seasons ago when Rafa Benitez was manager, but a knee injury in March 2019 interrupted his progress.

Longstaff – whose younger brother Matty made a first-team breakthrough last season – found himself out of the team after January’s defeat to previously-winless Sheffield United.

Bruce – who recalled Longstaff to the starting XI following March’s shocking 3-0 defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion – has addressed his “ups and downs” ahead of the Leicester game.

“It's normal for a young player to go up and down,” said United’s head coach, who could recall on-loan midfielder Joe Willock to his starting XI tonight. “It's very rare that you see a young player come into the team and not go through those ups and downs, and Sean's had his fair share of it.

“It's that level of consistency he has to strive to get when he matures, and the one thing he'll learn, a bit like his brother too. His brother, a year ago, burst on to the scene and did very, very well and then picked up an injury, unfortunately, he couldn't shake off.

“But they're young players – very, very good young players – who have both got a big future ahead."

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