Eddie Howe considering a recall of 'underrated' player to starting lineup to balance midfield

Eddie Howe has a huge task ahead of him now and that is to find a way to reinvigorate his Newcastle United side who are struggling in so many ways this season.

The main issue has been the lack of creativity in front of goal that has seen Newcastle now fail to score from open play in five games.

However, one fan has brought up a good point and that is how Newcastle haven't won since Sean Longstaff was removed from the starting XI.

Sandro Tonali served his 10-month ban and was reintroduced to the side, and now Eddie Howe has pressed on with trying to make the Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton trio work. It's what fans would have wanted to as on paper they are our best three midfielders, however, as they say, the game isn't played on paper.

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Newcastle haven't won since Sean Longstaff was taken out of the starting lineup

In this week's Q&A with Chris Waugh in The Athletic, it was heavily suggested that Sean Longstaff doesn't work as a late substitute and should be deployed from the start and hooked later on when Newcastle have control, and Chris Waugh believes that's what Eddie Howe is considering.

"Howe really appreciates what he brings. There is also a recognition that, aside from closing a game out, Longstaff is not an ideal substitute to have in terms of having someone who can come on to positively affect matches. He is better suited to getting Newcastle into a solid position, then being replaced by more of an offensive-minded midfielder if change is required.

"As Matty Longstaff, Sean’s younger brother, insisted, the academy graduate is underappreciated by some supporters and often receives undue criticism. He is not the most thrilling performer in Newcastle’s squad, but he is consistent and he is dependable. With the Joelinton-Guimaraes-Tonali axis yet to really spark, restoring Longstaff to the XI is something Howe is definitely considering."

It's time to reinstate Longstaff to the starting lineup

Longstaff was labeled as 'underrated' by teammate Harvey Barnes in an interview with GOAL and that does definitely feel like the case. And we are guilty of it too. We're part of the problem as we often use Longstaff as the scapegoat, but the stats don't lie and Newcastle have struggled since Longy was dropped from the starting lineup.

Maybe it's time to mix things up and risk upsetting the fans by dropping one of the Trinity from the midfield to reinstate Longstaff.

It seems like the sensible thing to do in the short term at least until everything starts to click agian.