---
title: "Newcastle United: Liam Kennedy reveals Matty Longstaff worry"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/newcastle-united-nufc-rumours-news-now-shields-gazette-online-latest/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Fintan O'Reilly"
section: "Newcastle United"
published: "2020-12-24T17:20:50Z"
modified: "2020-12-24T17:20:50Z"
---

# Newcastle United: Liam Kennedy reveals Matty Longstaff worry

**In an [article sharing his takeaways](https://www.shieldsgazette.com/sport/football/newcastle-united/no-urgency-no-desire-problems-back-problems-front-newcastle-united-head-tough-festive-period-perfect-storm-3076796) from Newcastle United’s EFL Cup quarter-final loss to Brentford on Tuesday, The Shields Gazette’s Liam Kennedy has shared some concern over Newcastle United midfielder Matty Longstaff.**

One of the journalist’s takeaways from this game was that the central midfield pairing of Jonjo Shelvey and Matty’s older brother Sean Longstaff ‘just isn’t working,’ with both of those players remaining [on the pitch for the entirety of Tuesday’s contest](https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1508786/Live/England-League-Cup-2020-2021-Brentford-Newcastle-United).

Matty was yet again left out entirely, causing Kennedy to worry for the youngster’s future under Steve Bruce.

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### **Time to worry?**

Despite this central midfield pairing not working and Kennedy describing this particular position as Newcastle’s ‘weakest department,’ the 20-year-old Longstaff brother [hasn’t featured frequently](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/matthew-longstaff/leistungsdaten/spieler/484387) at all this term after signing a [new deal with the North East club back in the summer](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11678/12054260/matty-longstaff-newcastle-midfielder-signs-new-deal) to keep him at St. James’ Park until 2022.

The [£4.5m-rated](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/matthew-longstaff/marktwertverlauf/spieler/484387) man briefly became a [free agent in the summer and was linked with clubs](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/options-available-matty-longstaff-newcastle-18745688) such as Udinese and Leeds United before re-signing with the Toon. However, he has made just [one senior appearance](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/matthew-longstaff/leistungsdaten/spieler/484387) for Newcastle in the 2020/21 campaign – a 29-minute cameo in his side’s 2-0 Premier League loss to Southampton back in November.

With Longstaff making the matchday squad for [just three senior Newcastle games](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/matthew-longstaff/leistungsdaten/spieler/484387) so far this season, Kennedy has revealed that he thinks ‘you have to worry’ for the midfielder with the way things are going for him at present.

### **Concerning developments for Newcastle United**

[It was revealed](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11678/12054260/matty-longstaff-newcastle-midfielder-signs-new-deal) that Toon boss Bruce persuaded Longstaff to re-sign with the North East club in the summer amid ‘serious interest’ from elsewhere, but with it now appearing as though the midfielder has been exiled from the Toon’s first-team, perhaps concern is warranted amongst fans of Newcastle.

[Bruce recently indicated](https://www.shieldsgazette.com/sport/football/newcastle-united/steve-bruce-reveals-situation-matty-longstaff-newcastle-united-3073301) that Longstaff simply isn’t match fit at present, having not participated in enough pre-season preparation for the 2020/21 campaign, but as it’s now December and he re-signed with Newcastle [in August](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11678/12054260/matty-longstaff-newcastle-midfielder-signs-new-deal), just a month after the 2019/20 season [ended in July](https://www.premierleague.com/news/1240976), it all seems quite bizarre.

\[freshpress-poll id=”339614″\]

It would be a shame to see the seemingly sought-after player go to waste this term after committing his future to the Toon and so, hopefully, for Longstaff and Newcastle United, this situation is resolved sooner rather than later, as perhaps he could hand a boost to the Toon in this so-called weak area of the pitch.

**In other news, [Newcastle United have been tipped to sign Ahmed Elmohamady from Aston Villa by Darren Bent](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/newcastle-united-transfer-rumours/newcastle-united-aston-villa-man-ahmed-elmohamady-tipped-to-sign/).**