Nigel Clough issues update on Newcastle United's Matty Longstaff
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Longstaff – who spent the first half of the season at Aberdeen – made his debut for loan club Mansfield Town at the weekend.
And the 21-year-old impressed manager Nigel Clough, who’s trying to get up to speed as quickly as possible.
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Hide AdLongstaff started last Saturday’s goalless draw against Bristol Rovers, who had United midfielder Elliot Anderson in their starting XI. Longstaff – who signed a new two-year contract at Newcastle last summer – had last started a game on October 3.


“He definitely needs a few games to adjust, but I was very pleased with his physical output over the 90-odd minutes he played,” Clough told the Mansfield Chad.
“You can see he's technically a very good player. It's just so different to the Premier League he's been used to, and even the SPL in Scotland.
“So it’ll take him a bit of time, but it was good to get him on the pitch. I think he’ll play an important role for us in the last 16/17 games.”
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Hide AdLongstaff – who made a stunning first-team breakthrough at Newcastle the season before last – was recalled from his Aberdeen loan after finding himself on the fringes of former United winger Stephen Glass’s starting XI.
Speaking after joining League Two Mansfield, Longstaff said: “It was an eye-opener (at Aberdeen). It was the first time I’d been out on loan. You get to see a different side (of football).
“A bit of a long ball kind of game (in Scotland). But I think everything happens for a reason, and I’m just looking forward to getting going here.
“In Scotland, everything was more of a fight, there’s probably not as much quality there as there is in the Premier League.
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Hide Ad“I’m expecting a bit of both [physicality and quality in League Two).
“I’ve trained with the lads, and they’ve got a great quality, but I’m expecting it to be a bit of a fight as well. I watched my brother (Sean) play in League One (with Blackpool) a couple of years ago, and they’re always tough games.”