The moment for forgotten Newcastle United man to shine once again?

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The Mag

·19. Oktober 2024

The moment for forgotten Newcastle United man to shine once again?

It all went wrong for Joe Willock 17 months and one day ago.

Ironically, on a night when pretty much everything went perfectly for Newcastle United.

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On 18 May 2023, Newcastle United taking on Brighton.

A 4-1 hammering of the visitors that was the performance and result, which effectively guaranteed a top four finish and Champions League football the following season.

For Joe Willock though, it was the start of 17 months of frustration, with only the very odd positive moment to enjoy.

The former Arsenal player was forced off through injury on 61 minutes of that hammering of Brighton, with United leading 2-1. He hasn’t been the same since. Not able to put any run of performances, or indeed even any run of matches together.

Since that May 2023 match against Brighton, Joe Willock has only started six Premier League matches and off the bench another eight times.

Stand out games few and far between in that time for Joe Willock. I remember he played well what starting in the 4-3 v West Ham last season, he came off the bench the final half hour and did well against Arsenal, introduced just before Anthony Gordon scored the winner, Willock it was who retrieved the ball BEFORE it went out and crossed for Joelinton and Gordon to do the rest.

However, maybe the Carabao Cup the two stand out performances in this time.

The 3-0 at Man U last season was quality, including a superb goal from Joe Willock.

Then this season, scoring within seconds at Forest and then quickly helping to set up Tonali for what should have been a second, only for the keeper to save. Willock’s surging forward runs seeing Forest totally unable to handle him.

Shame it only lasted 10 minutes!

Subbed off eventually on 15 minutes, thankfully that injury scare proving to be not serious.

However, it pretty much sums up these past 17 months for Joe Willock, Terrible luck with injuries and struggles to get fully fit AND stay fit.

After the 3-1 defeat at Fulham and shocking first half performance from the team, Eddie Howe admitted that he shouldn’t have started Joe Willock, as he’d been shown not to be ready just yet to be a Premier League starter again. Willock subbed off at half-time in that defeat.

Maybe though, today is the day, or very soon will be.

When Joe Willock is once again reintroduced to the starting eleven and stays there.

It is amazing how quickly we can all forget, or most of us anyway.

Joe Willock was an amazing player for Eddie Howe after the new boss arrived in November 2021 and indeed, in that top four season, Willock was involved in all 35 Premier League matches he was available for, starting 31 and coming off the bench in another four.

He was a key player and whilst he got three PL goals and six PL assists that 2022/23 season, that barely scratched the surface of just how much he was responsible for Newcastle United playing so well that season.

Ask any Newcastle United fan to name the team that should start against Brighton today and I would be surprised if anybody would name Joe Willock.

However, I think that when Eddie Howe judges it to be the right time, we could well quickly have our old Joe Willock back.

A fully fit one who can thrive when playing alongside the quality of players such as Tonali, Bruno, Joelinton, Isak, Gordon…

Joe Willock is versatile and capable of playing pretty much anywhere when fully fit and at his best.

Here’s hoping that best is just around the corner and he is back playing regularly again.

Newcastle United upcoming matches confirmed to end of January 2025:

Sunday 27 October – Chelsea v Newcastle (2pm) Sky Sports

Wednesday 30 October – Newcastle v Chelsea (7.45pm) Sky Sports+

Saturday 2 November – Newcastle v Arsenal (12.30pm) TNT Sports

Sunday 10 November – Forest v Newcastle (2pm) Sky Sports

Monday 25 November – Newcastle v West Ham (8pm) Sky Sports

Saturday 30 November – Crystal Palace v Newcastle