Joe Willock

Key strength: Adaptability

Versatile player

At a Newcastle United side languishing in 14th place and desperate to escape their LWDWL inconsistency, Joe Willock finds himself at a career crossroads. The 25-year-old box-to-box midfielder has managed just 1 goal and 1 assist across 28 appearances this season—a stark contrast to the predatory instincts that once made him a St. James' Park cult hero. Signed permanently for £25m in August 2021 after a blistering loan spell yielded 8 goals in 14 matches, Willock now battles for prominence in a crowded engine room alongside high-caliber teammates like Jacob Ramsey (80 rating) and Joelinton. With 1,157 minutes under his belt, his trademark lung-busting runs and tireless work rate remain his currency, yet that clinical ghosting into penalty areas has deserted him. Still valued at €28m with a contract running until 2027, the former Arsenal academy graduate has time to rediscover his mojo. Eddie Howe knows the quality is there—it is now about unlocking it in a Newcastle midfield where competition has never been fiercer.