Sean Longstaff has been effectively bumped down in the Newcastle United pecking order - journalist

Earlier this season, there was a realisation that Newcastle United hadn't lost a game in which Sean Longstaff started. Shortly after everyone cottoned on to that fact, it became no longer true, however.

There is definitely a touch of the Shola Ameobi about Sean Longstaff. Fans love him because he's one of our own and will give everything for the shirt, but there's also a tacit agreement that he's probably not at the level we need.

Longstaff has had some great games for Newcastle; let's not take anything away from him. Some of his contributions to the cause have been priceless, but like so many others in the squad, consistency is his biggest enemy.

That's likely why we're seeing less and less of Longstaff on the pitch lately and why he was so hotly tipped to leave the club in the January transfer window.

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Lewis Miley has now jumped ahead of Sean Longstaff in the NUFC pecking order

One fan has asked The Athletic's Chris Waugh whether he believes Longstaff has fallen down the pecking order behind Lewis Miley since the 18-year-old's return from injury.

While Waugh claims that Eddie Howe doesn't necessarily have a set order, he does go on to say that it feels like Longstaff is behind Miley in the running.

"Miley’s progress is viewed as vital and, having been slowly reintegrated over the past few months following a series of injuries, the 18-year-old has now moved ahead of Longstaff in terms of theoretical pecking order.

"Their differing skills mean that one may be preferred to the other for specific occasions, but Howe singled out Miley for praise following his second-half cameo at the Etihad and it is the younger of the two Geordies who is pushing for a start against Nottingham Forest."

Sean Longstaff wanted to stay put in January despite interest from elsewhere

Sean Longstaff hasn't started a game for Newcastle since December's defeat to Brentford and has only made it off the bench three times in the last eight Premier League games, so it does suggest that Eddie Howe is preparing for life without Longstaff.

There was plenty of interest in Longstaff in January, but the 27-year-old wanted to stay put in the hope that he'd get to lift a trophy with his beloved Newcastle before he leaves, and we can absolutely respect that decision.

That being said, it definitely looks as though his time at the club is coming to an end.