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Longstaff's Hat-Trick Joy
Written by Newcastle Utd
Teenager Sean Longstaff spoke to nufc.co.uk about his sporting family and working hard after marking his Newcastle United under-21s debut with a hat-trick
By Dan King - Newcastle United Digital Editor
Sharp-shooting Sean Longstaff marked his competitive debut for Newcastle's under-21s with a hat-trick in Tuesday night's Techflow Group Northumberland FA Senior Cup quarter-final win over Team Northumbria.
The 17-year-old started on the bench for Peter Beardsley's side at Whitley Park and didn't even know if he would get onto the pitch - let alone hit three goals in a 7-0 win.
But perhaps it was no surprise, for the former John Spence Community School pupil, who lives in North Shields, has been on fire in the Barclays Under-18 Premier League this term.
He had netted nine times in ten starts for Dave Watson's team before Tuesday night's treble; not bad for a midfielder.
Longstaff replaced the injured Callum Roberts after 20 minutes and scored with only his second touch before adding two more in the second half.
"I'm pleased, obviously," he told nufc.co.uk. "I didn't expect it. I was expecting just to come along and possibly get on if I was needed but - and I know it sounds harsh - luckily Cal got a little knock and they want to look after him so I got on.
"I was quite nervous at first but quite soon after coming on, I scored so that settled me down and I was just able to play.
"Peter (Beardsley) just said 'go on, work hard and chase balls' and for the first goal, I read what the centre-half was going to do and was able to take it round the keeper.
"The second one was great play by Haris (Vuckic) - he took on two or three players and he probably deserved the goal more than me, to be honest. It just fell to me.
"The third one was great play by 'Gippa' (Liam Gibson) down the left-hand side and he put it on a plate for me. I couldn't really miss."
Longstaff went home clutching the matchball, which had been signed by his team-mates.
And he beamed: "Some of the players in the changing room like Haris and Bigi (Gael Bigirimana), they're big players, they're first-team players, so to have them helping me and their names on the ball, it's something to keep when I'm older.
"If I don't have a long career, it's still a good piece of memorabilia. It was my first proper game for the under-21s, my first time getting on. I had a good trip down to Stoke (where he was an unused substitute), that was a good experience, but I'm just happy with this."
Although Longstaff is keeping his feet on the ground, he admitted that he has loved every minute of the current season, his first as a full-time scholar at the Little Benton Academy.
"The first game this season against Sunderland, I didn't start and I was a bit disappointed but luckily I came on and scored," he explained.
"When I didn't start, I made a conscious effort to try and do everything I could - go in the gym, get stronger and hopefully the rewards are happening now.
"I am doing well for the under-18s at the minute; I'm surrounded by loads of good players and coaching staff which gives me opportunities and I seem to be in the right place at the right time. Luckily they're going in at the minute and I hope that continues.
"My game is to try and be as fit as possible and get up and down the pitch, get beyond defences and hopefully get chances to score. I try to bring energy and workrate."
Longstaff's father is himself a sportsman of some repute. Whitley Bay-born David Longstaff was a top ice hockey forward and still captains Guildford Flames at the age of 40.
"He played in Sweden, which is probably the second best league in the world, when he was younger and was the first player to play 100 times for Great Britain in competitive games," said his proud son.
"Luckily I do come from a sporting family and he helps me. It's obviously not the same sport but he tells me when I'm not doing well - and gives me a little bit of grief, but it's all to help me in the end.
"He does the same for my little brother, Matty. He plays for the under-15s at the minute and he's doing well."
On Tuesday night, Longstaff was joined on the scoresheet by fellow Academy starlets Dan Ward and Stefan Broccoli.
And the hat-trick hero grinned: "We were all sitting on the bench just before the game, getting ready to watch it, and I can guarantee the three of us didn't expect to get on the scoresheet!
"Me, Stefan and Dan are three hardworking lads, we do a lot together, so it's good that us three are getting the rewards for working hard."