"I was shocked" - Two underrated Newcastle players named by former Toon talent

Whilst the recently-launched Baller League isn’t for everyone, it’s proving to be a good springboard for a number of young footballing talent to showcase their abilities and enjoy some time in the spotlight.

And one of those players is none other than our former academy star Michael Ndiweni, who stars at striker for FC RTW.

In a recent interview discussing his time in the Baller League, the former academy prospect delved deeper into his time with us, and has listed who he feels are some underrated gems in our system.

Ndiweni names two underappreciated Mags

Ndiweni recently appeared on the SDS podcast, discussing his footballing journey and progression, leading up to his experience now playing for Newcastle Blue Star FC and in the Baller League.

When asked by the hosts who a player he thinks is under appreciated by most fans and the public, Ndiweni immediately has a pair of players in mind.

“There’s two. Emil Krafth: defending, because obviously I’m a forward, coming up against him, he’s such a tough defender to face. 1v1 defending, he’s so good! That’s why we call him Krafu! He’s so good 1v1.”

“And someone who I was actually shocked at the first time I went was Sean Longstaff. Sean Longstaff is a good player man.”

“Short passing, everything, he’s zipping the ball. Obviously I’m coming from the 21s, the 18s, whatever, the passes are gonna be a bit slower. But you receive the ball from him, he’ll zip it in. Zip it into him, he’ll deal with it and pass it. Can progress the ball, such good passing.”

Whilst Krafth is certainly a player who has won fans over in recent seasons for his excellent cameo appearances and dependability, it’s nice to see Longstaff also receive his flowers for the consistent workhorse performances he’s put in for the side since becoming a squad mainstay under Eddie Howe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtkkhNMAnjQ&t=105s&ab_channel=SDS

 

One to stay, one to go?

Both Krafth and Longstaff had their contracts extended to the summer of 2026 this season, but it feels like one will stay and the other will go.

Krafth is a dependable, no-nonsense squad option able to play at right-back or at centre-back, he rarely lets us down and Howe always speaks so highly of the Swede.

Longstaff has fit a similar mould in midfield, but he's slipped down the pecking order and is arguably our sixth-choice option following Lewis Miley's return to fitness, leaving him open to a 'pure profit' sale while we're in a position to land a fee.

With Everton and Leeds continually linked, I wou