There was no talk of Wembley glory or challenging for a Champions League place when Sean Longstaff took part in his first pre-season training session last summer.
Nor were there any thoughts or dreams of sending Newcastle United into their first major cup final appearance since Alan Shearer led the Magpies during a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester United the 1999 FA Cup Final.
On a balmy June evening, the Magpies midfielder kicked off his preparations for the season three miles west of St James Park in the somewhat surprising setting of Scotswood, training alongside the players of Northern Alliance club Newcastle Blue Star, who compete ten levels below their illustrious Premier League neighbours.
READ MORE: Newcastle United predicted XI as Howe faces Saint-Maximin, Willock, Wilson and Isak headache
Longstaff’s journey from the West End of Newcastle to what he hopes will be securing a place in Tyneside folklore at Wembley on Sunday afternoon was well underway.
“Sean and Matty asked to come along and take part in the fitness part of the session and that tells you everything you need to know about them,” explained Blue Star assistant manager and family friend Andy Bowman.
“They both wanted to do a bit more before the season started, they wanted to hit the ground running and they wanted to be fully ready so they asked if they could come down to do a bit of fitness work alongside the lads.
“The professionalism they showed was brilliant, they raised everybody else’s game and some of the young lads were buzzing to see two Newcastle players at their session because they just didn’t expect it. I think some of them thought they wouldn’t be getting in our team this season.”
Intriguingly, given his status as a Premier League star, there were several members of the Blue Star squad and coaching staff that have achieved something Longstaff will hope to match this weekend.
There are around 17 FA Vase Final wins in the ranks of the non-league club with players and coaches experiencing Wembley glory with the likes of Whitley Bay, North Shields and Dunston UTS.
So who better to give advice to Longstaff over what it takes to create history at the home of football?
“Obviously a few of the lads can educate him on that but we should probably leave that to Eddie Howe because he seems to know what he’s doing,” joked Bowman.
“Sean clearly and correctly trusts in Eddie and they seem to have a strong relationship and that is such a positive thing to see.”
Longstaff has credited the Magpies manager with turning his career around in several interviews given in the build-up to United’s first Wembley cup final appearance in almost a quarter of a century.
There is no doubt the midfielder facing numerous challenges during the managerial reign of Howe’s predecessor Steve Bruce and at one stage it seemed inevitable his time with his boyhood club was coming to a close.
For that reason, Bowman believes there was no more fitting player than Longstaff to secure his side’s place at Wembley with his semi-final second leg double against Southampton.
He said: “It will be great for him because he’s been on a bit of a rollercoaster ride in recent years.
“That fact it’s Wembley, he’s a Geordie, and walking out there for Newcastle will mean the world to him.
“But it’s one thing getting to Wembley, it’s another winning at Wembley. For someone like Sean to be able to say he’s played there and hopefully won there, and to do it for Newcastle United, would be the cherry on the top for him.
“He’s had tough times, he’s spoken about them recently, but he is so thick-skinned and he’s so aware of what is happening around him. He’s very determined to prove people wrong and he knows there are ups and downs, that’s football.
“He just marches on and you saw that at St James Park in the semi-final.”
Bowman was sat alongside a proud David Longstaff as the former Great Britain Ice Hockey international watched his son brush off some criticism over his finishing with a fine double in the win over Southampton.
Both Longstaff brothers have regularly spoken of the support structure put in place by their family and close friends as they made their way through United’s academy.
That has taken them far, according to Bowman, although he did reveal there were mixed emotions as a bold pre-match prediction from their Dad came true at a buoyant St James Park.
“The fact it was his goals that got Newcastle to Wembley meant everything to him - although the funniest part of it was that his Dad missed out winning quite a big bet.
“David said on the way to the game he fancied Sean for two goals and we looked at the odds but he forgot to put the bet on. When the second one went in I turned around and saw his face.
“I’m not sure he knew what to feel about it. But joking aside, we all know he’s got a great family, a deep family, one that he holds close and he’s got a good network of carefully-chosen friends. He hasn’t let anyone in that wasn’t in from the start and that’s down to his family.
“He’s level-headed and won’t let anything get to him which is why we know his attitude will be exactly what is needed.”
The question now remains as to whether the Longstaff brothers will be invited back when Blue Star’s preparations for the 2023/24 season get underway?
“It depends who we sign this summer because we have some big plans so Sean and Matty will have to come on trial and we will see how they get on before we can offer them anything. Hopefully Sean will come along with a winner’s medal in his pocket because there is nobody more deserving than him.”
READ NEXT
Eddie Howe reveals Kevin Keegan plan Newcastle will 'definitely arrange' even if 'difficult'
Marcus Rashford's post won't change Newcastle's plans vs Manchester United as mind games start
Eddie Howe's emotional 'vision' before Newcastle vs Manchester United as he opens up on his mum
Alexander Isak 'hungry for more' as Newcastle get added final bonus against Manchester United
Kieran Trippier insists Newcastle 'not cheating' as Manchester United family show true colours
