Rafael Benítez expects Newcastle United’s young central midfielder Sean Longstaff to receive an imminent England call-up, most probably to Aidy Boothroyd’s under-21 side.
The 21-year-old academy graduate from North Shields has made only seven appearances in Benítez’s first team but is already being compared to Michael Carrick. Longstaff’s assurance on the ball, passing range and vision are currently keeping more senior midfielders, most notably Jonjo Shelvey, on the sidelines and Newcastle’s manager awaits a call from St George’s Park.
“Sean wouldn’t look out of place with England, there are not too many young English players with his quality,” said Benítez. “I think he will go, he’s doing well and playing in the Premier League. I like to see my players going to the national team. I don’t care if it’s the Under-20s, Under-21s or even the senior side but I think he needs to go one step at a time. If we start talking too much about how well it’s doing, it’s a risk.”
Not that Benítez is overly worried about success going to Longstaff’s head. “Sean’s humble, professional and focused,” he said before Tuesday night’s home game against Burnley. “He’s a player who can be consistent.”
He also has an ideal opportunity to join up with Boothroyd’s side for next month’s friendlies against Poland and Germany at Bristol City and Bournemouth before challenging for a place in this summer’s England Under-21 Championships in Italy and San Marino.
The only question mark against Longstaff is that, unusually, he has not progressed through England’s junior development teams. “Sometimes you have players who aren’t in the system but they develop later,” said Benítez.
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“I saw Sean in training [for Newcastle’s Under-23s] and I saw how good he was technically, he was doing right-foot, left-foot finishes into the bottom corner. His vision is good, there are just a few things he has to improve but he listens to us and is learning quickly. He’s someone who is normally calm under pressure and that’s a good thing for a midfielder.”
Benítez, meanwhile, is playing a resolutely straight bat in the face of suggestions that his name looms large in Leicester’s plans as they seek a replacement for the sacked Claude Puel.
Newcastle’s manager is still to renew a contract which expires in May and will not agree to extend his stay on Tyneside until he gains certain assurances from the club’s owner, Mike Ashley, but, asked about Leicester’s shortlist, his reply proved intriguing.
“Short? It’s not very short, it’s quite long now,” said Benítez. “I’m focusing on our next games. We have to stay up and we have to stay focused. My main target now is to get three points against Burnley.”
