While Newcastle United won't be gracing the pitch at Wembley anytime soon, one Magpie is set to run out at the landmark stadium later this month. Joining Mansfield Town in January following a frustrating loan move to Aberdeen, Matty Longstaff has played a key role in helping the Stags secure a play in the EFL League Two play-off final.
Mansfield overcame Northampton Town 3-1 on aggregate this week which ended an agonising season for the latter who missed out on automatic promotion due to Elliot Anderson, another Newcastle player out on loan, scoring a seventh goal in a 7-0 win for Bristol Rovers.
Anderson's goal meant Rovers went up on goal difference to League One automatically at Northampton's expense on the final day of the League Two season.
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And now Longstaff joins the list of Newcastle midfielders to inflict promotion pain upon Northampton. Mansfield won the first leg 2-1 at Field Mill before dispatching Northampton 1-0 away in the second.
While Longstaff only appeared in the first-leg after remaining on the bench in the second, he has been a key addition to Nigel Clough's side. The 22-year-old has scored six goals in 17 appearances for the Stags this season.
Mansfield will will face either Port Vale or Swindon Town in the League Two play-off final on May 28.
And Longstaff was not the only Mansfield player with ties to Newcastle United. Cult hero James Perch also plays for the Stags, and has been ever-present in Mansfield's defence since he joined them in 2020.
Perch is fondly remembered on Tyneside following a difficult start at St James' Park, with the now 34-year-old filling in at a number of different positions during his time with the Magpies.
