Joe Willock looks set to go on loan this month, after his brace in the FA Cup, with Sunderland one of the clubs showing an interest.

Arsenal's English midfielder Joe Willock celebrates scoring his and Arsenal's second goal during the English FA Cup third round football match between Blackpool and Arsenal at Bloomfield Road in Blackpool, north west England on January 5, 2019. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)
Arsenal’s English midfielder Joe Willock celebrates scoring his and Arsenal’s second goal during the English FA Cup third round football match between Blackpool and Arsenal at Bloomfield Road in Blackpool, north-west England on January 5, 2019. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)

Sunday’s edition of The Football League Paper reports that a loan ‘now seems imminent’ for Willock, particularly after his impressive performance over the weekend. There have been some question marks over the fact he still seems a bit ‘wiry’ at this age, but that reportedly hasn’t stopped Sunderland from showing an interest.

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Football League Paper 6 January 2019

The Football League Paper expect Sunderland to face competition from several Championship and overseas clubs this month.

The Times wrote on Monday that Willock ‘justifies comparisons to Paul Pogba’ after his Blackpool brace. They called the performance one that Pogba ‘would have been proud of’ and added that it erases the memory of the midfielder’s first FA Cup start against Nottingham Forest a year earlier.

joe willock v blackpool
BLACKPOOL, ENGLAND – JANUARY 05: Joe Willock of Arsenal celebrates with teammates after scoring his team’s first goal during the FA Cup Third Round match between Blackpool and Arsenal at Bloomfield Road on January 5, 2019, in Blackpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Mark Robinson/Getty Images)

It probably is best if Willock goes on loan later this month. He’ll likely have a chance to play in the FA Cup fourth round, depending on who Arsenal draw on Monday night. However, from February to May, his opportunities are sure to be fairly limited.

If the 19-year-old went out on a brief loan to a club that really needs a midfielder like him, it could push his career forwards and have him fighting for starts next season.