Joe Willock has returned from injury in time to face his former club Arsenal next week, praising his manager’s support throughout the process.
Before Wednesday night, former Arsenal midfielder Joe Willock hadn’t played a single minute of football for Newcastle United in 2023/24, having struggled with a hamstring injury.
But the 24-year-old returned to action in midweek, making the Newcastle squad to face Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.
Willock ended up coming on for the final 20 minutes of the Dortmund clash, making his Champions League debut.
It wasn’t Newcastle’s best day in the end, as they lost 1-0 to drop to third in the group, but Willock will be pleased to have made his comeback.
Speaking after the game, the former Gunner revealed that Eddie Howe had supported him throughout the process.
“He never went a day without seeing me,” Willock said. “He never went a day without speaking to me, asking me where my mental side was. We just had a lot of good conversations and it means a lot.
“When you’re out for so long, you have this fear that people forget about you, around the ground and stuff. But the gaffer, he made sure that he always saw me every day.”
Willock’s last game was all the way back in May, playing against Brighton in a 4-1 win. But he’s now returned just in time to face Arsenal.
Newcastle United host the Gunners next Saturday, November 4th at 17:30 BST, and it seems Willock could now be in line to feature in that match.