Newcastle United midfielder Joe Willock proved to be the last signing of the infamous Mike Ashley era at St James’ Park.
Following a dazzling loan spell on Tyneside during the second part of last season, Steve Bruce was granted his wish, as Ashley forked out £25m (Sky Sports) to sign Willock on a permanent deal from Arsenal.
The England under-21 international finished last season as one of the most in-form players on the planet, scoring in his last eight Premier League games.
Willock was a breath of fresh air and his goalscoring exploits helped Bruce’s side finish the season with five wins from the last nine games.
Being the club’s only senior summer signing was always going to bring additional pressure. But taking into account his form whilst at the club on loan and the large transfer fee to secure his signature, Willock’s performances were always going to be scrutinised like never before.
But if we would have been told upon the moment we signed him on a permanent basis that Willock wouldn’t have registered a goal or assist by the season’s halfway mark, fans would have no doubt been left dumbfounded.
However, here we are and the 22-year-old is struggling to have that same devastating impact he had during his loan spell.
It may be early days in Eddie Howe’s Newcastle tenure, but there are no signs that the former Bournemouth manager’s arrival on Tyneside is going to remedy Willock’s form.
Instead of registering key passes, shots and dribbles, Willock is making more interceptions and tackles.
Signed as an energetic midfielder, who looked to have a knack of timing his run into the penalty area perfectly, Willock is struggling to have an attacking influence on matches.
With Howe’s side engulfed in a relegation dog fight, the former Cherries box desperately needs to find a way of unlocking Willock’s raw potential and creating a game plan, style and system, that gives Willock the freedom to link up with star duo Allan Saint-Maximin and Callum Wilson.
Rekindling the form he showed during the second half of last season would be a massive boost to our survival prospects.
That’s the job that Howe, Jason Tindall, Graeme Jones and Willock have to resolve on the training ground.
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