With the transfer window now in the past, Newcastle United know the players they will be relying on for the rest of the Premier League season. While the club added a promising young player in Joe Willock on loan, two of the young Magpies already on the squad stayed put and deserve their chances to play.
Both Elliot Anderson and Matty Longstaff had interest from Championship sides on loan deals. But, the club wanted to keep Anderson around for the second half of the season and Longstaff was determined to stay and fight for his place in the squad.
The 18-year-old Anderson is regarded as one of the club’s most promising players. He made his debut in the FA Cup before making a brief EPL cameo vs. Arsenal last month. Steve Bruce and his staff are fond of the young player, but if you’re not going to loan him out, you need to give him some chances to play and continue his development.
For Longstaff, the club made sure to sign him to a new long-term deal last summer. He’s followed that up by playing in five Premier League matches this season, including four starts. While the addition of Willock pushes the young Longstaff down the pecking order in the central midfield, his desire to break into the rotation and his energy should earn him a shot.
The promising duo will be in the long-term plans for Newcastle United, but they also deserve the opportunity to make a difference down the stretch this season, too.