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Shear class as Willock equals goal record
JOE WILLOCK equalled Alan Shearer’s Newcastle record of scoring in seven straight Premier League games to add more pounds to his asking price.
The Arsenal loanee’s early goal and a late Fabian Schar penalty ensured Toon finished the campaign in the dizzy heights of 12th, their best position since 2018.
But now Magpies manager Steve Bruce faces a big fight with the Gunners to sign Willock.
The midfielder was valued at £20million by Arsenal before another supershow in southwest London that would have left watching owner Mike Ashley with mixed feelings.
Goodness knows how much will need to be stumped up for the 21-year-old now.
Bruce said: “If you watch him play, you can see he is a young player who is enjoying himself, and enjoying the freedom we have given him.
“He has been given a licence to run forward, something he did not have before. “He’s a very good player and I’ve answered the question for three or four weeks – we would love to bring him back. He’s Arsenal’s player, so let’s hope we can test their resolve.
“I couldn’t be more pleased for him. He’s done so well.
“We’ll try our utmost to keep him but we must respect that he’s Arsenal’s player.”
Ashley watched his first Magpies game of 2021 as Willock again starred. And if England manager Gareth Southgate is looking for a trump card in his Euro 2020 squad, the young midfielder might just be it.
Willock had already gone close before scoring in fine fashion.
He stormed through and, after his initial effort was blocked by Tosin Adarabioyo, Willock pounced on the loose ball to bury from the edge of the area (bottom).
Relegated Fulham have scored just nine goals at home this term, the first side in Premier League history to fail to reach double figures on their own patch in a single season. And they were sloppy in front of goal again here.
Ademola Lookman twice went close early in the game while Ivan Cavaleiro missed a real sitter at the start of the second half, after Fabio Carvalho had stolen the ball off Willock, a rare bad moment for the youngster. But the Cottagers never looked like finding an equaliser. And it was left to Newcastle to wrap things up two minutes from the end.
Kenny Tete fouled Matt Ritchie in the area with Schar coolly slotting home the resulting penalty (above).
While Newcastle have their own questions, so do Fulham this summer. There is still uncertainty over boss Scott Parker’s future although the returning 2,000 fans gave him a wonderful reception.
When asked if he would still be at Craven Cottage in pre-season, Parker said: “To be honest, it’s not something I’m thinking of.
“I want a break, first and foremost. Then I will work out where the best way to go is and become stronger.
“We all need to take a breath, we’ve all been in the firing line. That game was our season in one.”