‘Strange’ - Leeds United man name-checks Eddie Howe after Newcastle United reunion
Sean Longstaff opened up about his experience working under Eddie Howe at Newcastle United following the goalless draw at Elland Road.
Sean Longstaff has admitted it felt unusual lining up against Newcastle United at Elland Road.
The midfielder spent 19 years at the Magpies before leaving earlier this summer. Longstaff was crucial during Eddie Howe’s early career as Toon boss but found game time hard to come by last season.
Sandro Tonali’s emergence in the heart of the engine room was inevitable and left the North Shields native as a bit-part player. Newcastle ultimately allowed Longstaff to join Leeds United in July for around £15million.
MOTM performance
Daniel Farke started Longstaff against his former club and was repaid with a man-of-the-match performance. One moment in particular saw the 27-year-old leave his mark on Bruno Guimaraes - which drew a huge cheer from the home crowd.
In similar fashion to the previous two games, the Magpies looked lightweight up front as they struggled to break Leeds down. Newcastle head into the international break winless but will hope new signing Nick Woltemade gives them added impetus in attack.
Sean Longstaff on Eddie Howe
As for Longstaff, the ex-Toon ace hailed Howe for the impact he had on his career. He also opened up about the “strange” feeling of playing against his boyhood club.
“(I was) really lucky to play under Eddie at Newcastle,” Longstaff told Sky Sports. “Some of the best football of my career was under him. To be honest, if it wasn’t for playing in that team, I would have never got the move here.
“I enjoyed it. It was a bit strange to be honest. Obviously, playing against some of your best friends and stuff, it was really weird.
"But in a way, you know them so well, it allows you to just sort of enjoy the game, something that won't happen a lot and to be honest I'm happy it's out of the way and you can fully focus on Leeds now.
"The week was a bit weird with it all but I thought we were really good today, defended really well. We can be slightly better on the ball at times but I think for us it was definitely a step in the right direction."
Eddie Howe on reuniting with Sean Longstaff
When asked before the game about coming up against Longstaff, Newcastle boss Howe said: “It's always a unique thing when you come up against players you know so well. I've done it a lot in my management career.
“It can be a difficult thing because Sean, for us, was so good. He was very popular, as you say, in the dressing room. He was very popular with the coaches because whatever job you asked him to do, he would deliver to the best of his ability.
“He's been part of some special nights for the football club. Played his part on our journey to where we are now. So we thank him a lot for that. Of course, we're going up against him now tomorrow. But it will be great to see him out on the pitch doing what he does.”