Newcastle United midfielder Sean Longstaff has admitted that he was left 'flattered' by reports linking him with a move to Manchester United.
After a strong second half of the campaign with the Magpies, Longstaff was named as one of several homegrown players who were interesting Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
However, while acknowledging the sentiment, the academy graduate says that he found it surreal given his injury situation over the summer.
Longstaff told The Times: "You're seeing stuff about yourself on the telly and the next day I'm in the gym and I can't even step on to a box that's the height of my shin, or get up the stairs without grabbing on to something.
"I was flattered to get my name mentioned in those conversations but, like my dad says, 'Sport's got a funny way of dragging you back down to earth'".
Longstaff has made three starts and one substitute outing for Newcastle during the current campaign.