Leeds United have made a solid start to life in the Premier League, with four points from their opening three games. The 0-0 draw against Newcastle United was a huge confidence booster following two poor performances against Arsenal and Sheffield Wednesday, respectively.
The Newcastle game at Elland Road also saw Sean Longstaff make his first start for his new club against his old side. The former Magpies star produced a solid performance in the middle of the park, which earned him the Man of the Match at the end of the game.
Leeds signed the 27-year-old midfielder from Newcastle in the summer for a deal worth up to £15m. His bags of experience in the Premier League were a key reason behind the Whites adding him to their promoted squad ahead of their return to the top flight.
Longstaff’s performance has given Daniel Farke a selection headache ahead of the Fulham game, but the midfielder also delivered a ‘huge blow’ to his former side during the game at Elland Road.
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Sean Longstaff has already caused a huge headache for Newcastle United with his performance for Leeds
Longstaff produced a bruising performance against his former side, and that has now led to the Magpies losing a key player early in the season.
Jacob Ramsey joined Newcastle from Villa in the summer and played in the game at Elland Road. A challenge from Longstaff injured his ankle, and Eddie Howe has revealed that he will be out for several weeks until the October international break.
It is a big blow for Newcastle as the midfielder was a marquee signing, and their former player played a part in taking him out for a few weeks.
Eddie Howe on Jacob Ramsey:
“Jacob is our only other injury concern and he’ll miss the game. He’s suffered from that tackle against Leeds, his ankle swelled up at half-time and he had to come off. Unfortunately I think he’ll be missing until the next international break so… pic.twitter.com/3eyHI6ROXk
— Newcastle United (@NUFC) September 12, 2025
“Jacob is our only other injury concern, and he’ll miss the game”, Howe said in a press conference.
“He’s suffered from that tackle against Leeds, his ankle swelled up at half-time, and he had to come off.
“Unfortunately, I think he’ll be missing until the next international break, so that’s a big blow.”
Longstaff is going to be huge if Leeds are to survive
Leeds needed some Premier League experience at the start of the season, and Longstaff was brought in to fill that gap in their squad.
He didn’t start the first two league games, but injuries to Ampadu and Tanaka meant that he was in the starting eleven against Newcastle.
The midfielder added much-needed physicality to the Leeds midfield and showed what’s required to limit the big teams in the Premier League.
With Ampadu and Tanaka back in training, Farke has to decide whether to keep Longstaff in the team for their away trip to Fulham on Saturday.
His performance against Newcastle should keep him in the team, especially for an away game in the Premier League, where his physicality will come in handy.
