Newcastle United midfielder Matty Longstaff looks set for a departure from St James' Park this summer, with his long-term future at the club also under threat.

What's the word?

That's according to journalist Chris Waugh - in a Q and A for The Athletic - who revealed that it is "looking unlikely" that the academy graduate will have a role to play under manager Eddie Howe moving forward.

Asked whether the 22-year-old has a future on Tyneside, the respected insider revealed that: "I think it's looking unlikely. Howe admitted a couple of weeks ago that Matty Longstaff is likely to go out on loan. Whether he signs a new contract, given he is into the final 12 months of his, before he goes, is unclear".

The Englishman spent the first half of last season on loan at Scottish Premiership side Aberdeen, before joining League Two outfit Mansfield Town on another temporary deal in January.

Sad decline

As Waugh suggested, with just a year remaining on his existing deal with the northeast side, it appears seemingly inevitable that young Longstaff will be leaving the club permanently once that contract expires, having fallen way down the pecking order in recent times.

That fact represents what is a sad decline for a player who had burst onto the scene just under three years ago, enjoying a dream Premier League debut after netting a stunning winner against Manchester United back in October 2019.

Since then, however, the central midfielder has made just 14 top-flight appearances in total, including just five during the 2020/21 campaign under former boss Steve Bruce.

While older brother Sean has remained a permanent fixture of the first team in recent times, the less experienced Longstaff has struggled to force his way back into the reckoning, having also endured difficult stints out on loan last term.

A switch to Pittodrie last summer resulted in the former England U20 international making just five league outings in total, with Newcastle ultimately opting to recall him midway through the season due to his lack of involvement.

His subsequent stint at Mansfield was far more fruitful as he netted six goals and provided two assists in just 18 games for Nigel Clough's side, albeit with his drop into the fourth tier of English football a marker of just how far he has fallen of late.

As Waugh alluded to, another loan move has been mooted this summer, with the hope being that he can attempt to kickstart his career for his own sake, even if his long-term future looks to be away from St James' Park.