Match Coverage

Bruno Guimaraes compared Joe Willock to two of the best players to play the game

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Joe Willock’s assist for Alexander Isak’s first goal in Newcastle United’s demolition of Tottenham was a thing of beauty and it’s caused Bruno Guimaraes to gush about his teammate.

It wasn’t too long ago that Bruno Guimaraes christened Newcastle‘s dynamic midfielder, Joe Willock as ‘Willockinho’ and that name seems to have gone well and truly to his head as he has become unstoppable lately.

Speaking to Sky Sports’ Keith Downie after the Spurs destruction, Bruno Guimaraes placed Willock amongst some very esteemed company with his comparisons: “Willockinho with his new hair today — he looked like Ronaldinho and played like him too. “An amazing through ball for Joe(linton) goal. What a pass! “Only Modric can play a pass like that. It was amazing.”

Praise doesn’t come much higher than what Bruno bestowed upon Willock

Years after Kevin Keegan was told Newcastle wouldn’t sign Luka Modric because he’s too small, we now have a Modric of our own.

Being a combination of Ronaldinho and Luka Modric would make for one phenomenal midfielder, and if a player of Bruno Guimaraes’ quality is backing you to be that good, then you must be doing something right.

Newcastle United v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League
Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images

Willock has to be closing in on that England call-up now

Kieron Dyer, on pundit duty for Sky Sports, asked Eddie Howe after the game if Joe Willock should be starting to think about taking over from Jordan Henderson in the England midfield.

It’s actually astonishing that Willock has yet to be called up by Gareth Southgate given his performances for Newcastle, but the calls for him to be called up are getting louder and louder. Now, going off Kieron Dyer’s question and Eddie Howe’s agreement with him, a call-up can’t be far away.

Once Willock gets into that England squad he needs to make himself undroppable and make that place his own. As Dyer said, there are a few players being picked regularly who must be coming to the end of their international career, now is the perfect time for Willock to step up.

Surely the comments from Bruno can only spur him on to do so.