Willock Happy To Stay: Fans Now Happy With Wissa & Elanga

Of the three players who could have also departed in the summer in addition to the ones we lost - Willock, Tino and Hall - Willock was the one most expected to leave and the one many fans would have been largely unconcerned with.

"Happy to stay"

Little Joe's move to Turkey looked well on until Matthias Jaissle saw things in training and in pre-season games that made him block Willock's move and some good performances and two goals have made that look like a good decision.

This is what Willock had to say in a recent interview...

"I'm happy to still be here. It is a massive club and a club that has played a big part in my career." 

"I'm really happy to still be wearing the badge and this shirt and giving my all. It's an important club for me and I'm pushing forward. We have big aspirations so hopefully we can reach those goals."

"I feel valued. It's my fifth year at the club, and I'm really maturing in the way I think towards the team and getting older."

"There are a lot of young players coming in. It's a different role for me this season. I want to help others and push on in my career as well."

"The new manager has given me a new lease of life. I am really happy he's here and happy working under him. 

"He's a really young, exciting coach, and we're all learning a lot from him. It's good times to be a Newcastle United player."

After a blistering goal scoring start on loan Willock has struggled to get anywhere close to that form partly due to persistent injuries and a midfield three that was very difficult to break into leaving Willock to get the odd game at LW or as a sub.

Now fit and injury free and playing as a 10 we are again seeing the hard forward running and eye for goal that Little Joe has always had in his game.

Three Existing Players Have Made The Squad Stronger

Along with 'born again' Willock, Yoane Wissa and Anthony Elanga are now showing that their £55M fees may yet prove money well spent.

New signings are always exciting, but most have been young and unproven in the Prem.

The three born again players have played a massive part in our unbeaten start to the season with five goals between them already - a stat few fans would have predicted before a ball was kicked.

Add in Jacob Ramsey, who has been solid as a starter and a sub, and it just goes to show that even after an iffy first season it is still too early to write experienced players off.

Squad Strength Will Increase

You don't have to add players for squad strength to increase as Willock, Wissa and Elanga have proved,

And, there is no doubt that the more time Jaissle and his coaching team spend with both the new and existing players on the training pitch the stronger individually and collectively the squad will become.

The nights may now be starting to draw in...

But from being in a dark place just a few weeks ago NUFC can now see a bright light shining over SJP.

That's why I am forecasting plenty of sunny days ahead for the Toon.

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