Sean Longstaff's 'life-changing' summer
Newcastle United's Sean Longstaff has opened up about his form last season, dealing with criticism, becoming a father – and his hopes for the new campaign.
Sean Longstaff has always found it hard to switch off from football.
When the Newcastle United midfielder returned home from a training session or game, he would invariably pick up his mobile phone.
And that’s not necessarily a good idea during a bad run of form or after a bad result.
Longstaff, however, will be picking up something very different when he returns home this coming season.
The 26-year-old became a dad this summer, and he’s been holding “amazing” baby Brady, and not his phone, in his spare time.
“To be honest, I think it's probably the best thing that could have happened to us,” said Longstaff, who is preparing for the Sela Cup games against Girona and Stade Brestois on Friday night and Saturday respectively.
“I think the less I can think about football, the better, really. I've got a little boy now, and he just gives me a chance to completely switch off from football, which I think I really like.
“I think I've spent, whatever it is, from being full-time, 17 until 26, and you come in, train, and you think about training and you play a game, you think about how you've played for however long.
“And then, suddenly, I've had a little baby, and had a first day of pre-season, and came home and just sat with him on the settee, and didn't even think about it once.
“I think that'll only help us, to be honest, going forward. (It has been) a life-changing summer, and I couldn't be happier.”
The only issue for Longstaff will be getting enough sleep – and he’s been “sneaking” into the spare room.
“He's doing really well, his mum's doing great,” said Longstaff. “His mum's been really good with him.
“I'm trying to sneak in the spare room, to be honest, with me for training the next day, which she's not overly happy about sometimes!”
The baby’s already helping Longstaff unwind away from the football pitch on football-obsessed Tyneside.
“Yes, definitely, because Newcastle's a bubble,” said Longstaff. “Sometimes you can't get away from it, if we win or lose, you can't get away from the game as much as you want to, really.
“If a nappy needs changing, I think now it'll be completely different. I think I’ll have less time to sit on your phone, you just watch the telly when you're with him.”
Longstaff feels that he’s been a “easy target” for criticism at times along with Blyth-born Dan Burn and Miguel Almiron, linked with a move away from Newcastle this summer.
“I think sometimes me and Burny especially, when it's not going as well, I think we're sometimes easy targets, probably Miggy as well, to be honest,” said Longstaff.
“We just want to stick together as a group, whether it's good or bad, we try and stay as level as possible. We're not stupid, we sort of see a bit of it, but all we can do is stick together and try our best on the pitch.
“We've got to look at the last two years – finished fourth, finished seventh, we’ve got to a cup final, it's been a really successful two years, and this year is another year where we need to kick on and try and be successful.”
‘Turning point’
After the highs of the fourth-placed finish in 2022/23, and the Carabao Cup final that season, it was tougher going on the pitch for Longstaff and his team-mates last term.
Eddie Howe’s injury-hit squad was stretched by a first Champions League campaign in 20 years, and, at times, it looked like some players were running on empty.
“I think, for me, March last year was a big turning point,” said Longstaff, who scored eight goals in all competitions last season. “I got to sort of get it all sorted out, and then the last ... I don't know how many games it was to the end this season, I felt a lot better.
“I scored a few goals in that time, and just felt a lot better within myself. Probably the end of the season came at a bit of a weird time in terms of just me starting to feel a lot better.
“But, yes, the summer just gave an extra chance to get even healthier. It's a big season coming up, not as many games. More competition, and something I'm really looking forward to.”
Longstaff hopes Newcastle, on the back foot for periods last term due to injuries, will be more on the front foot in the new season.
“I'd say it was a massive learning experience in terms of playing every three days, and so this year having the six-day lead-ins to games like we did when we finished fourth, I think will be a massive advantage to us,” said Longstaff.
“And if we can keep everyone fit, the squad's really, really strong.
“Training's going to be really tough and competitive, because everyone's going to want to play, and everyone thinks they can help the team, so for us, it's about pushing each other as much as we can with the ones who aren't playing, helping the ones who are playing, and vice versa.
“So I think it's a really exciting year for us, and one we're really looking forward to.”
Transfer ‘shock’
The club sold Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh earlier this summer to comply with the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules.
“Elliot was a massive part of our team, on the pitch, off the pitch,” said Longstaff. “When we saw it, we were in shock.
“We’re not stupid, we'd seen all the stuff with financial fair play, and who was on the table and who wasn't on the table.
“I think at that point, the way it seemed, I think everyone sort of had their price. The day after it was done, I think we were all in running together, and he came in, and you just sort of gave him a big hug.
“But, hopefully, he's going to use it as a positive, and yeah, maybe he's not going to be seen as the young lad at Newcastle anymore, and he'll get a bit more respect for how good he is. Hopefully, he can kick on and have a really good season, just not against us.”
Asked if he felt that he could be sold, Longstaff added: “Yeah, I think so. I mean, I don't know how true the stuff was.
“I think each sort of situation is slightly different without getting too deep. So yeah, like I said, you've just got to focus on yourself and whatever happens, happens.
“And, like I said, Elliot, unfortunately for us, was the one that had to go. For us, it's just now about focusing on who's here, and having a really successful season.”
Longstaff, under contract for two more years, hopes to stay at the club for the long-term.
“I've been in Newcastle for a long time,” said Longstaff. “So, for me, my goal since I was eight was to get another contract in Newcastle, and that sort of mindset hasn't changed.
“So, for me, it's just about proving my worth to the team, to the manager, and what will be, will be.”
And fatherhood should ultimately help Longstaff perform better on the pitch
“He's got plenty of dirty nappies at the minute, so we're kept quite busy,” he said.
“It's good, it's just learning to be a dad, learning how it all works, it's all brand new, but loving every second of it.”