Longstaff has not started a Premier League match at Leeds United for more than 11 months

One wonders whether Sean Longstaff has had a moment or two where he has reflected on his decision to leave Newcastle United.

The midfielder spent 19 years at his beloved club, but felt he had to make the tough decision to leave in search of more game time. This, in its most basic form, he has succeeded in.

He played 787 minutes of Premier League football in his final year with the Magpies, and got 1,006 in his maiden season at Leeds United. He also increased his number of league starts from eight to 10.

This is progress, but surely not the progress he had hoped for. Since injuring his calf last November, Longstaff has failed to start a Premier League game.

Part of that is due to the formation change enacted at Manchester City. By the time Longstaff returned to fitness, Leeds only needed two central midfielders, rather than three.

Anton Stach had nailed down his place next to the unmovable club skipper Ethan Ampadu, and when a change did come, it was Ilia Gruev who started 11 straight league games. Ao Tanaka also found it difficult to nudge his way in for minutes, never mind a start.

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However, unlike Longstaff, he managed to fight his way into the team towards the end of last season and at the start of this one. Longstaff had enjoyed a good pre-season.

He had impressed in all friendlies but was dealt a killer blow to his competitive hopes when Stach, not yet fully fit and arguably still not at his top level, was started ahead of him in the final match of pre-season.

The 28-year-old had a right to feel hard-done-by, albeit he was one of those who mauled Stach when he smacked home his winning free-kick against Nottingham Forest on the opening day. Longstaff’s subsequent in-season performances dented his line-up hopes.

While the record books will note he assisted Daniel James' goal against Nottingham Forest in the League Cup, this was the highlight of an otherwise ropey game.

And against Chelsea in the next round - his last start for Leeds - he was rather anonymous after skying a good chance on the edge of the box in the first half.

In all, he has enjoyed just 20 minutes of regular Premier League action this season. Ironically, it was his latest entry into the game so far - in the 88th minute against Sunderland - that brought about his best performance.

Playing against the team he came to despise growing up in Newcastle, Longstaff twice came close to breaking the deadlock. He first forced Robin Roefs into a low save from an effort on the edge of the box.

And a few minutes later he might have got the winner from close range when Noah Okafor pulled back for him with Roefs all at sea - but for Lukas Nmecha to get in the way inadvertently. It was so very nearly a Bournemouth-away moment.

Criticism, rightly or wrongly, has somewhat been aimed at Daniel Farke after that goalless draw at the Stadium of Light. One shortfall came in midfield, where there appeared to be a lack of central attacking bite to support Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Longstaff, along with fellow substitute Stach, did offer this after coming on albeit this has to be caveated by the reality that both teams were looking for a winner amid stretched play and tired legs in adverse conditions.

But the last time a midfielder scored was Tanaka’s strike against Newcastle United, and that actually went down as an own goal. So Stach is the last midfielder to formally get on a Premier League scoresheet.

Of course, it is not all about scoring. The defence has received a lot of praise for having the second-best goals-against record in the division, but the midfield has played its role too.

At the same time, it has not been perfect and there is room for improvement going both ways. The door remains ajar for Longstaff.

If given the chance of longer minutes, if not a start, then it is up to him to take it, unlike in his League Cup games amidst an admittedly rotated team.

He has to be given a go at some point. Or else why the transfer? If he is not, then he might be minded to think about his future already.