Too many Newcastle United players are below their best so far this season.
Not many members of the Newcastle United squad have been consistent with their performances. Beyond Nick Pope and Dan Burn, it is difficult to suggest anyone who has played well enough week after week.
Newcastle’s big stars are not at their best. Anthony Gordon looked shy of confidence against Brighton, while Bruno Guimaraes was far from influential. Meanwhile, Alexander Isak will be disappointed he wasted so many chances.
Elsewhere, Eddie Howe is yet to get a proper tune out of Joe Willock since his return from injury.
How Newcastle feel internally about Joe Willock this season
The 25-year-old endured a terrible 2023/24 season. He was a major miss, with the midfielder only fit enough to make 14 appearances throughout the entire campaign.
Newcastle were desperate to get him back to fitness, and there was so much hope ahead of his comeback this season. Some people at Newcastle even felt Willock was like a new signing.
However, so far he is like a new signing that is not settled and yet to prove why he was brought to the club.
According to the Athletic, some people at Newcastle have been frustrated with Willock’s performances this season, given how influential he was expected to be.
The Athletic add that members of Newcastle’s coaching staff expected more from Willock, whilst accepting that he has been hindered by a lack of minutes on the pitch.
Newcastle need a solution to their Joe Willock problem
Willock is struggling in black and white. That was evident when he came on against Brighton on Saturday. He was meant to be a game-changer for Newcastle, but that did not happen. Willock constantly conceded possession, as Eddie Howe’s side slumped to a 1-0 defeat. Like a lot of his teammates, he was extremely disappointing.
Given how big a miss he was last season, it has been a rather underwhelming return. There have not been too many high moments, with Willock’s second half display against Wolves his biggest contribution of the season.
It was only last week that Sean Longstaff said Willock is Newcastle’s most ‘underrated’ midfielder, but he is yet to prove why that is the case. Willock adds something different to Eddie Howe’s team, but has so far been unable to stand out alongside Newcastle’s other struggling stars.
He is suffering from a lack of rhythm, and could perhaps benefit from a run in the starting XI. However, that presents its own problems.
Willock normally plays on the left of the midfield three, which is regularly occupied by Joelinton. Howe could play Willock in that position, but that would mean either dropping Joelinton or moving him to the left wing and using Anthony Gordon on the right wing.
Both options feel unlikely, which means Howe must find another way of getting a tune out of a player who was such a big miss last season.
Receive a digest of our best Newcastle content each week direct to your mailbox
