Longstaff started 30 of Newcastle’s 38 Premier League games last season but has been limited to just eight league starts this term, the last of which came back in December.
The 27-year-old will be moving into the final 12 months of his current contract this summer, and Howe has now hinted for the first time that the midfielder could move on. Everton have been strongly linked in the past.
Asked what Longstaff’s current role is, Howe said: “His role is to be ready to play, ready to come on and I have trusted him in big games where he has come on and played his part in those wins.
“We are going to need the whole squad in our league season. We have nine massive games to come and everybody has to be ready.
“His long-term future is slightly more unclear. But what I can say is that behind the scenes, Sean has been very good, helping the group, training to a high level and I cannot speak highly enough of him as a person.”
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Longstaff has been the victim of the excellence of Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton this season, while Howe also has Joe Willock and Lewis Miley jostling for opportunities in midfield.
There’s no doubting who is in Howe’s first choice midfield, though, and there’s a case to be made that the trio of Tonali, Bruno and Joelinton is the best in the top flight.
Howe said: “It’s difficult for me to give a definitive answer but just looking at those individual players, they all bring something different and when you talk about balance, that’s what you want.
“You want the creativity that Bruno can bring us, the good decision-making that Sandro brings us and Joelinton’s physical presence.
“Add that together and you’ve got a little bit of everything. Although you can think that before bringing them together, sometimes, you can’t measure the chemistry. Chemistry is just as important.
“That’s why you see some players play better with others and sometimes there’s no logic behind it. It just happens because the players express themselves in that way together.
“They are getting there. With every game, maybe, the understanding of each other gets better and stronger.”
Newcastle head for Leicester on Monday, the first of four Premier League games in 12 days.
Howe said: “That will be a testing period for us, but we have just got to try and manage and navigate this period really sensibly with the players that we do have fit.
“We need to look after everybody. If we can get a good, strong team out on the pitch, we’re good enough.”
