Newcastle United midfielder Matty Longstaff is attracting interest from clubs in the English Football League after returning from a successful loan stint at Mansfield Town.
The 22-year-old initially reported back for pre-season testing but Eddie Howe has now cut his squad down and Longstaff was included on a list of players told to train at the Academy. Longstaff, along with others, was hoping for a chance to shine in pre-season and show Howe what he could do.
But Howe, who will take his squad to Austria next week, has been forced to whittle down numbers for the two-game tour in the Alps. Longstaff - who will forever be remembered for scoring the winner against Manchester United in 2019 - was not alone when told to train with the Under-21 squad this week with experienced striker Dwight Gayle, Ciaran Clark and Jeff Hendrick also working at Little Benton until moves can be secured.
Longstaff spent last season at Aberdeen then Mansfield after signing a new deal in 2020 but with a year left, Howe has decided to bring in other players in midfield. Clark and Hendrick were left out of Howe's Premier League squad in January along with Northern Ireland full-back Jamal Lewis.
However, Lewis - for now at least - looks set to remain as part of the first-team squad. The left-back was hit with injury woe last term but Howe has previously stated he is a fan of the pacy defender.
Lewis could get an opportunity in upcoming friendlies against Gateshead, 1860 Munich and Mainz 05. Howe is carefully monitoring his squad but there could yet be some other familiar names moving on this summer if the club get the targets they have in mind.
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