STEVE BRUCE has warned Sean and Matty Longstaff they will have to be patient as they look to kick-start their respective careers with Newcastle United.

The North Shields-born brothers have had a frustrating first half of the season that has seen their opportunities in Newcastle’s first team limited to a handful of appearances.

Sean has started nine of the Magpies’ 21 league games, but did not even make the matchday squad at Everton at the weekend, while Matty, who was an unused substitute at Goodison Park has started four league matches this term.

The pair were both linked with possible loan moves away from St James’ Park yesterday, but the transfer window closed with them both still part of Bruce’s first-team squad.

The Newcastle manager can understand their mounting frustration, but with neither expected to start this evening’s home game with Crystal Palace, he has told them to knuckle down as they look to turn their fortunes around.

“In terms of their careers, I’d like to think they’re on the right path,” said Bruce. “Of course, I’m sure they would both like to play more regularly, but obviously the way the midfield played at the weekend, then they’ll have to wait a little bit more patiently.

“When they get the opportunity, they’ve got to grasp it and play well because at the end of the day, the team really picks itself on performances.

“At the moment, they’re not in the team, so they’ve got to keep working and bashing away to get in. Then, when they get their chance, they have to take it.

“It’s been difficult for those two, but it’s been difficult for everybody over the last couple of months in terms of performances. They’ve got to keep doing the basics. They’re both still very young, so they have to keep bashing away at it.”

Ryan Fraser and Jamaal Lascelles are doubts ahead of tonight’s game, with the former having been struck down with a non-Covid related illness over the weekend and the latter having had a scan yesterday on the hamstring injury that forced him off at Everton.

“It seems to be our problem at the minute,” said Bruce. “Jamaal and Feddy (Fernandez) have both picked up muscle injuries.”

Ciaran Clark proved his wellbeing as he replaced Lascelles at Everton, while Paul Dummett also returns to the squad this evening after completing his latest recovery from injury.

Newcastle (probable, 4-3-3): Darlow; Manquillo, Schar, Clark, Lewis; Hendrick, Hayden, Shelvey; Almiron, Wilson, Fraser.