Matty Longstaff can be the next Newcastle breakout star

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Newcastle United have played four pre-season games so far this summer and academy product Matty Longstaff has remarkably played a part in each one.

The 19-year-old was given a chance in the Premier League Asia Trophy against Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Ham, which has been followed up with cameos against Preston and Hibernian on Tuesday night.

Steve Bruce has overseen three of those matches since being appointed the club’s new manager and appears to have given him a chance to impress.

Longstaff is yet to make a first-team appearance in a competitive game, but surely he’s in the mix to be the breakout star at St James’ Park over the next season.

He is a box-to-box midfielder that covers so much ground and hasn’t looked phased by playing alongside first-teamers.

The teenager can make late attacking runs into the final third and is confident in possession.

His brother Sean Longstaff made the jump from academy to the senior group throughout last campaign and the signs are he could follow in his footsteps.

Matty Longstaff should take every confidence from pre-season and sticking around the squad when the campaign officially starts seems a realistic aim.

He needs to try prove he can provide cover for the likes of Jonjo Shelvey, Isaac Hayden, Ki Sung-Yueng, as well as hos brother in the centre of the park.