Glenn Hoddle has claimed that Joe Willock will now be looking ‘over his shoulder’ at Newcastle United, as he told Premier League Productions (19/02/22 at 8:40 pm).
The former England playmaker added that Willock will feel that he has to perform now because of what is behind him in the Newcastle pecking order.
During the January transfer window, Eddie Howe added Bruno Guimaraes to their ranks and he is yet to start since being signed up.
Over the weekend, Willock scored his first goal of the campaign during his side’s 1-1 draw at West Ham.
And Hoddle thinks there are now ‘competitions for places’, as Willock proved at the London Stadium.
“They look a team now,” said Hoddle. “Eddie Howe, he has had some time to settle them down and they look a team without them really top players (Wilson, Trippier and Saint-Maximin).
“There is competition for places. Willock started playing like the backend of last year, when he was scoring goals.
“He was looking like he was safe in the team. Now he is looking over his shoulder and he is saying ‘I have got to perform to stay in the team’.”
When Willock was on-loan at St James’ Park from Arsenal, he went on a crazy goalscoring run towards the end of the campaign.
But that soon went out of the window when he was signed up on a permanent basis by the north east club.
The Toon Army faithful will be hoping he does something similar during these final few months.
If that’s the case, then Newcastle’s chances of staying in England’s top-flight will increase by huge amounts.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
