Bruno Guimaraes has opened up about playing alongside Newcastle’s 23-year-old midfield maestro, Joe Willock after his superb assist for Miguel Almiron against Wolves on Sunday.
I recently offered up my opinion that Joe Willock’s recent performances could ease the burden on Eddie Howe in terms of finding another top midfielder as the former Arsenal man is growing in stature week by week. A view that seems to be somewhat echoed in Bruno Guimaraes‘ comments to club media in his latest interview.
Speaking to NUFC TV, Guimaraes was asked about the man he recently gave a new nickname to: “Willockinho!” laughed Bruno. “Willock is a good player, he’s doing very well this season. He’s a young player as well. He has a good character. With the ball he’s able to play, I like to play with him. I think he did very, very well with his game and the pass he found for Miggy for the second goal was beautiful. I am very proud of him. He’s important for the team.”
“He’s very happy [with the nickname Willockinho], we spoke today and he told me he needed something like that. He’s Willockinho forever now.”
The Bruno and Willock partnership could be huge for Newcastle
Newcastle need to build their team around Bruno, such is his quality. The club needs to match his level of quality and ambition, in order to keep him on Tyneside. Therefore, bringing in players who can perform to the same levels as the Brazilian is paramount. However, it seems that Bruno is forging a solid partnership with Willock.
That partnership is only likely to improve as they play more games together and as a result, could give Dan Ashworth‘s team one less headache this summer as they look to find players to help the club progress to the next echelon.
It’s not about the goals anymore
Willock isn’t scoring the goals we thought we were going to get from him after his mind-blowing loan spell, but the more time he’s had working under Eddie Howe the more his confidence has returned. While goals still aren’t a big part of his game, his overall work rate and creativity makes up for it.
The weekend being the prime example of what Willock now brings to the side. A sublime assist for Miguel Almiron‘s winner and a performance that would have bagged him Player of the Match on any other day were it not for Alexander Isak‘s goal scoring heroics.