Credit: Imago

Samuel Fabre

Wed 25 March 2026 10:40, UK

Leeds United star Sean Longstaff has hardly featured in the Premier League since returning from injury in January.

The 27-year-old found himself without regular game time at Newcastle, yet with plenty of Premier League experience under his belt, he was always going to be a valuable addition to the Leeds squad.

As a result, Longstaff joined the Whites for £12million plus add-ons in the summer transfer window and has excelled when called upon.

However, a calf injury he sustained in November kept him on the sidelines for six weeks, disrupting the momentum he had built up while playing in midfield.

Most recently, Longstaff scored in the FA Cup against Norwich City at the start of March, but he has found it incredibly tough to return to the starting lineup.

Sean Longstaff has only started one Premier League game in 2026

Longstaff has seamlessly slotted into the spine of the Leeds team, and his contributions were vital to the way the team played.

However, Daniel Farke has evolved his tactics in the last few months, which has greatly impacted his chances of playing consistently.

According to Sofascore, the English midfielder has created 22 chances and registered 24 successful crosses, while also winning 53.4 per cent of his ground duels.

Longstaff has been brilliant for Leeds in multiple different aspects, combining his physical presence and technical ability to become one of the top creators in the Premier League this season.

The Whites have plenty of depth in midfield, with Ilia Gruev, Ethan Ampadu and Anton Stach all above the 27-year-old in the pecking order.

His injury came at the worst possible time, and although Leeds had an upturn in form while he was unavailable, that doesn’t change how valuable he can be to the side.

With only one league start in 2026, Longstaff has been given no choice but to impress in the FA Cup if he wants to force his way back into Farke’s plans.

How Ilia Gruev has benefited most from Longstaff’s injury

Ilia Gruev has clearly been the biggest beneficiary from Longstaff’s time out.

After producing an excellent display in the 3-1 win over Nottingham Forest on 6 February, Gruev’s importance to the side was made abundantly clear.

Although the Bulgarian international was initially seen as a squad player, his performances have left Farke with no choice but to start him.

Playing on the left side of central midfield, his passing range across the pitch has been phenomenal.

Longstaff has performed well in the FA Cup wins over Birmingham City and Norwich, and with the Whites next in action against West Ham in the quarter-finals at the start of April, he could be given a chance to start.

However, it’s his performance against the Hammers that could define his minutes for the rest of the campaign, and there’s no doubt he’ll be concerned about how the second half of the season has panned out.