"The potential of the lad is huge" - Ex-Mag shares brilliant Sean Longstaff insight
After giving him his first taste of senior football during his loan spell in Scotland, former Newcastle midfielder Lee Clark has revealed why he always believed Sean Longstaff was destined for the top.
Speaking to the Chronicle, Clark praises his tactical awareness, discipline, maturity and ability to get forward and score goals - feeling he will get 5-10 goals from midfield in time.
Here's what Clark had to say about Longstaff just over two years on from handing him his debut at Kilmarnock back in January 2017:
"Sean took the first game in his stride and like he's done since he got into the first team at Newcastle, he just got stronger and stronger with each game,"
"Whatever we put forward to him in terms of different tactics, a different role in the team - sometimes playing in a two, sometimes playing in a three - he just drove forward with it.
"His discipline and mentality was like a player who had a lot more experience than he had and was older than he was. That has come to the fore since he got into the team at Newcastle as well.
"He's a midfield player who can also break lines, can break beyond your striker. He's a very good finisher for a midfield player and can get you between five and 10 goals a season.
"For all he's doing very well, excellently, I know, and I've seen myself at a lower level, there's more to come from him if asked and if needed.
"The potential of the lad is huge in what he can go on and do, but he's done superb so far."
It's interesting that Clark mentions his goalscoring ability, with this being something that he showed during his loan spell at Blackpool (scoring 9 times from midfield).
He's scored just once so far for Newcastle - via a deflected shot from range in our FA Cup win at Blackburn - but this is another impressive part of his game we're yet to even see. Just look at some of these goals he scored during his spell with Blackpool last season:
If he can continue running himself into the ground, being disciplined defensively, classy on the ball AND add goals to his game then we have one hell of a player on our hands.
