https://theathletic.co.uk/2450657/2021/03/17/longstaff-and-newcastle-team-mates-puzzled-by-his-absence-after-bruces-summer-promises/
Shock horror - it sounds like Bruce completely lied to Matty to get him to sign the contract!
I had forgot about this too - he's such a clueless clown! Did the same previous year with a clearly unfit Lejeune!
After making his first appearance of the season, a 29-minute cameo against Southampton on November 6, he did not play during the next six matches. Then, from being outside the match-day squad, he suddenly found himself playing every minute of three matches in eight days against three top sides in Manchester City (Boxing Day), Liverpool (December 30) and Leicester City (New Year’s Day). Across those matches, in a side that was struggling, he was arguably among the better performers.
He was subsequently an unused substitute in the FA Cup defeat away to Arsenal, with many squad members then expecting him to start against Sheffield United three days later, but he again remained on the bench. Then came a 78-minute runout back at the Emirates in the league on January 18, and he has not made a single appearance since. He has not even made a squad since February 15 and has not played a minute since the 4-3-1-2 formation was introduced eight matches ago, despite his energy appearing ideally suited to the system.