'I just want': Newcastle United star makes new contract admission - expires in 2025

The Geordie midfielder is into the final 12 months of the three-year extension he signed in 2022. Longstaff has been on the books at his boyhood team since the age of eight and has made 182 senior appearances since making his debut in December 2018.

Longstaff played the majority of last season through injury but often came under criticism from supporters, despite enjoying his best-scoring return for the club with eight. Reflecting on the criticism, the 26-year-old said: “I think sometimes me and Burny [Dan Burn] especially, when it's not going as well, I think we're sometimes easy targets, probably Miggy [Almiron] as well to be honest.

“Like I said, we just want to stick together as a group, whether it's good or bad, we try and stay as level as possible.

“We're not stupid, we sort of see a bit of it, but all we can do is stick together and try our best on the pitch. We've got to look at the last two years - finished fourth, finished seventh, we’ve got to a cup final, it's been a really successful two years and this year is another year where we need to kick on and try and be successful.”

It wasn’t until March when Longstaff began to feel “a lot better”. The signs have been promising in pre-season too after he played 90 minutes in Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Yokohama F. Marinos at a hot and humid Japan National Stadium.

“I think for me, March last year was a big turning point. I got to sort of get it all sorted out and then the last... I don't know how many games it was to the end this season, I felt a lot better,” Longstaff added. “I scored a few goals in that time and just felt a lot better within myself.

“Probably the end of the season came at a bit of a weird time in terms of just me starting to feel a lot better. But yes, the summer just gave an extra chance to get even healthier. Like I said, it's a big season coming up, not as many games. More competition and something I'm really looking forward to.”

With no European football comes a fewer amount of games. That is a major disappointment for Newcastle having from the Champions League to nothing but Longstaff hopes that be used to their advantage.

He said: “I'd say it was a massive learning experience in terms of playing every three days, and so this year having the six-day lead-ins to games like we did when we finished fourth, I think will be a massive advantage to us, and if we can keep everyone fit, the squad's really, really strong.

“Training's going to be really tough and competitive because everyone's going to want to play and everyone thinks they can help the team, so for us, it's about pushing each other as much as we can with the ones who aren't playing, helping the ones who are playing, and vice versa. So I think it's a really exciting year for us, and one we're really looking forward to.”

Can they Newcastle reach the top four again? “Yes, I think so,” he replied. “It's a long season, so I think you've just got to break it down into little targets. For us, we've got a squad that can compete for the top four, so for us, that's on the agenda.

“Like I said, it's got to be week-to-week and little goals. Ultimately, if we can do all those little things, hopefully they turn into a successful season.”

Naturally, a successful year will strengthen Longstaff’s case for a new contract, as it will for several other of his teammates whose current deals are due to expire in June 2025.

Asked about his contract situation Longstaff said: “I don't know. You’ll probably have to ask someone else.”

He added: “Yeah, I just want to play football. I've been in Newcastle for a long time. So, for me, my goal since I was eight was to get another contract in Newcastle and that sort of mindset hasn't changed. So, for me, it's just about proving my worth to the team, to the manager, and what will be, will be.”