Longy still coming to life in the big league

added: “We played for the under-23s together last year and we compliment each other quite well.

“We both like to get after the ball and for me I think it was about not letting my brother down on this stage.

“He was buzzing about it and buzzing about tackling people!

“It is amazing really. It is given the place a really big lift.

“It is about finding the balance about wanting to help him and also letting him go out there and play.

“There is a reason why the manager has him up with us. He has been brilliant in training every day.

“He has the quality and the composure.

“You could see against Manchester United just a minute into the game he was pinging diagonal balls from 40 or 50 yards.

“It is great to see because he breeds confidence around the team.

“When it is your brother it makes it more special. To see that little smile on his face is unbelievable but he has lit up the whole place.”

The clash at Chelsea will be a tough encounter for Newcastle and, after catching the eye of the pundits against the Red Devils, there is no doubt both brothers could be marked men this weekend.

Longstaff went on: “It is great having a few big lads around you as well, people like Andy Carroll.

“We grew up with that with the ice hockey – it isthe same thing.

“Growing up in North Shields too and playing football with your mates, there is always a bit of banter going back and forth.

“Manchester United did not probably expect Matty to be as good as he was and it got under their skin.

“He has come in and ran the show. I was buzzing for him.”

Complacency could be Newcastle’s biggest opponent this weekend but Longstaff hopes the team will have the right attitude.

He reflected: “It was pretty hard after Leicester and a few teams around us won. So that made it tough against Manchester United.

“Man United are still a top side. But we were great going forward and Allan Saint-Maximin gave us something going forward and got people off their seats.”