Newcastle United's brothers in arms Sean and Matty Longstaff have reflected on their pride at playing together at first-team level.
Both have climbed the ranks at Newcastle in recent years with Ben Dawson delighted to give them an appearance together with the senior side.
On a proud day for the Longstaff family, the club's Academy plus North Shields Athletic Juniors, who unearthed the duo, the midfield battlers played their part in a 1-0 win over West Ham.
For Longstaff senior it was his first game back since a knee injury picked up in March.
But for his kid brother Matty, still just 19, it was his second appearance in the space of just a few days.
Matty reflected: "You dream of it.
"We played in the Checkatrade together, and if someone had said we’d play this pre-season for the first team, I wouldn’t have believed them.
"It was a proud moment for the family back home watching."
Sean was also beaming with pride as his younger brother was interviewed after the game.
The 21-year-old was always in with a shout of making his comeback on the trip but for Matty this was an unexpected bonus.
He reflected: "To be fair, we went and got visas, but that doesn’t really mean anything.
"We weren’t sure.
"We were away on the Spain trip last week with the Under-23s working hard with them. Liam Bramley pulled us to one side and said you’re going across to China with the first team.
"All the lads were absolutely delighted.
"We can only thank Neil Redfearn and Ben Dawson, who selected us to go.
"They’ve given us a chance."
Matty would love to follow in the footsteps of Sean in the first team for a competitive bow.
But said: "To be honest, even watching him at Kilmarnock and Blackpool on his loan moves, I was always watching him there.
"Last season he broke through at Newcastle.
"As a family, we couldn’t be prouder, but as a player, I think he showed how good he is."
The 1-0 win over West Ham ended the trip to China on a high.
The teenager said it was fully deserved: "Yeah, definitely, especially the first-half.
"I thought we dominated all of it. I thought we were much quicker out of the blocks, and I think that’s how the team can play.
"It was tough.
"Playing in the Hong Kong 7s helped a little but when you play at this level - it’s the best level in the world - I don’t think you really get used to playing at this level through the Under-23s.
"It does help a little bit with conditions."
Both brothers starred together last season in the reserves before Sean's rise to the first-team picture.
And in appearing together they joined Shola and Sammy Ameobi, the Robledo brothers and Matty and Ritchie Appleby.
