Let's say then that his manager preferred the other striker to him in that game. If in the words of Bungle he is "one of the standout strikers in the Premiership", I'd be surprised to see him not used against Newcastle and it had nothing to do with his hamstring. Clarke's reasons (rotation apparently) are here:
http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/85/en...-ahead-of-long
p.s. I have no problem with Long but he is not the world beater that some anti-Trap people seem to think he is. At the German game there was a "supporter" (who left after 75 minutes because he had "seen enough") behind me who was going apoplectic that "the best striker in the Premiership" (i.e. Long) wasn't on the field or the "brilliant" Robbie Brady. Long is a good player but if Walters is to be our battering ram and if we continue to play 2 up front, I'd still choose Keane ahead of him but there are of course differing opinions on that one. As a lone striker I'd probably select Long ahead of either of them as Robbie doesn't have the legs to chase for 90 minutes.