NEWCASTLE UNITED will attempt to rush through a new contract for breakout star Matty Longstaff in the next few weeks in order to ensure he is not tempted to consider a January move away from St James’ Park.

Newcastle officials will also initiate a new round of discussions with Sean Longstaff, who remains the subject of ongoing interest from Manchester United, but Matty’s position is now regarded as the priority in the wake of his remarkable Premier League debut at the weekend.

Matty, who completed a dream debut when he scored a second-half winner against Manchester United in front of the Gallowgate End, signed his first professional contract in 2018.

However, that deal, which was set at a ‘development’ level rather than at what would be regarded as ‘first-team terms’, is due to expire at the end of the current campaign.

That leaves Newcastle in a vulnerable position as Matty would be able to leave as a free agent next summer, and is currently in a position where he is free to speak to interested clubs from overseas in January.

The 19-year-old would not leave for nothing if he was to depart at the end of the current campaign, but while Newcastle would be due compensation to reflect the work they have put in to develop the midfielder in their academy, it would be unlikely to reach £1m as things stand.

That could change if Matty was to cement a first-team starting spot in the remainder of the season, but his lack of senior experience to this point means any compensation figure would almost certainly be significantly lower than the teenager’s true market value.

As a result, Steve Bruce will work with members of Newcastle’s executive team to try to tie Matty down to a new long-term deal as quickly as possible.

Senior Tyneside sources insist there is no sense of panic, with Matty’s Tyneside roots and lifelong affiliation to the Magpies making it extremely unlikely that he would be persuaded to move on, even if another Premier League club was to come calling.

However, both Mike Ashley and Lee Charnley are known to have been furious at the chain of events that led to highly-rated youngster Lewis Gibson leaving Newcastle’s academy to join Everton in 2017, and are determined to ensure they avoid even the remotest prospect of a similar scenario unfolding with the club’s latest teenage talent.

The situation with Sean is less pressing as the elder of the Longstaff brothers signed an improved contract last December. That was agreed on the back of his elevation to the first team, and commits him to St James’ until the summer of 2022.

Nevertheless, with Manchester United expected to launch a new attempt to sign him in January, there is a willingness to revisit the terms of the deal in an attempt to make Sean’s position even more secure. With a potential international call-up on the horizon, the Magpies hierarchy are keen to stay ahead of the curve as the midfielder continues to develop.

Both Longstaff brothers will spend the next fortnight on Tyneside preparing for Newcastle’s next outing, a trip to Chelsea on Saturday, October 19.

The club’s international contingent will not reconvene until two or three days before the trip to Stamford Bridge, but Bruce will be working with the remainder of the squad and tailoring his training programme to ensure any bumps and bruises are afforded time to heal.

Allan Saint-Maximin was an injury scare in the wake of Sunday’s victory, but while the Frenchman admits he experienced some pain, he has not suffered any recurrence of the hamstring problems that plagued him last month.