Steve Bruce has urged Sean Longstaff to concentrate on his own performances rather than worrying about 'tittle tattle' linking the Newcastle United midfielder with a move to Manchester United.
The 21-year-old was on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's radar last summer as the Reds looked into signing a replacement for Ander Herrera, but ultimately decided against bringing in a new midfielder.
While a bid never materialised, Longstaff admitted he was 'distracted' by Manchester United's interest as he stepped up his recovery from a knee injury.
Now, ahead of Longstaff facing Solskjaer's side for the first time, Bruce has told the midfielder not to let fresh talk of a move to Old Trafford affect him.
"I think Sean Longstaff needs to now concentrate on his own performances rather than worry about speculation and title tattle as I call it because I don't think there was any real legs in the Man United story," the former Manchester United skipper told reporters.
"It all happened before I arrived here. Whether there was, I have never really asked the question. All Sean can do now is recover from his bad knee and start putting in the performances which ultimately get you linked and start playing well again."
Longstaff piqued Manchester United's interest with his displays in black and white last season before suffering the first serious injury of his career in April.
It has been quite a year for the midfielder, who signed a new four-year deal in December, and Bruce understands why talk of a move to his former side was a distraction.
"When you're a young lad, you're going to be. He's got to learn to put that aside and just get on with the job at hand - which is playing for us," he added.
"I do believe he signed one last Christmas. There's no problem there contract wise. As I said for him now I think at the minute is forget contracts, forget his knee injury, forget Man U - it's all about playing well for us now and getting back playing where we know he's capable."
