Mansfield Town’s new signing, Matty Longstaff, admits he ‘can’t wait to get started’ as the on loan Newcastle United man settles into life with the Stags.
The 21-year-old joined the club on deadline day last week.
Speaking to iFollow Stags, Longstaff reflected on his first day of training.
“It’s been great,” the club’s new signing said.
“The manager has been great. It’s good to meet all my teammates and I’ve really enjoyed training,
“It was good to get playing with them.
“I’m looking forward to the rest of the season.”
The move surprised some n the footballing world because of the midfielder’s Premier League pedigree.
“I got on the phone with the gaffer, and he said what a great run the club has been on.
“[The boss said] Hopefully we can get promoted and [mentioned] the fight [to get promotion] that is going ahead.
“Once he said that I jumped at the opportunity to come here.
“One of the biggest things [reasons for joining the club] is that we want to go places and win.
“We’ve got a good chance here of going up, and I think that’s a big thing when you’ve got something to play for late on in the season.”
Longstaff had a previous loan spell this season, at Aberdeen in Scotland.
“It was an eye-opener. It was the first time I’d been out on loan. You get to see a different side [of football],” he said.
“[It was] A bit of a long ball kind of game [in Scotland].
“But I think everything happens for a reason and I’m just looking forward to getting going here.
“In Scotland everything was more of a fight, there’s probably not as much quality there as there is in the Premier League.
“I’m expecting a bit of both [physicality and quality in Sky Bet League Two].
“I’ve trained with the lads, and they’ve got a great quality but I’m expecting it to be a bit of a fight as well.
“I watched my brother [Sean] play in League One a couple of years ago and they’re always tough games.”
On his aspirations for between now and the end of the season, the new recruit said: “Hopefully I can get myself going again and play loads of games.
“In the past year, I haven’t played as much as I would’ve liked but hopefully, I can come here and help the team.
“Hopefully we can get promoted, I think that would be good for the club and the fans.”
Due to the Stags’ recent record-breaking form, Longstaff believes it will be a challenge to get into the Mansfield starting XI.
“Yeah, definitely. I think that’s [the case] at all clubs,” he said.
“You have to fight for your spot and once you get it you have to take the opportunity.
“Like I said [before], I trained this morning, and the quality was high.
“I watched them [the Stags] the other night against Harrogate and that was a battle but I thought the lads did well, so I know I’m going to have to come here and fight for my place.”
The youngster has already shone at such an early age, bagging a memorable goal against Manchester United on his Newcastle United debut.
“I grew up a Newcastle fan so to get that moment was unbelievable.
“I’ve had great years at Newcastle but I’m looking forward to being here and getting started.
“Hopefully I can add a bit of quality and a bit of energy to help the team.
“Whatever the team needs, I’m happy to do it.”
Click here to watch Matty's interview in full.
