Joe Willock needs to score more for NUFC

Journalist Chris Waugh has claimed that Joe Willock needs to score more goals for Newcastle United amid recent injuries to a couple of their key forwards.

Earlier this week, it was confirmed that striker Alexander Isak is now unlikely to return before the World Cup due to a thigh injury. On top of that, Allan Saint-Maximin will be missing for the next period as well due to a hamstring (via Shields Gazette).

With these two attackers sidelined, the Magpies will need to find some goalscoring threat from other areas of the field. Worryingly, however, Willock is yet to score this season, so now really is the time to step up.

Indeed, while reacting to the news of the recent injuries on Twitter, Waugh explained that the Newcastle midfielder is playing well but just needs to start taking his chances.

He said: “Joe Willock has the 2nd-highest expected goals for any PL midfielder yet to score this season.

“He is playing well & he offers an athleticism that no other #NUFC midfielder can match.

“But, with Isak & Saint-Maximin out, he must start contributing goals.”

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TIF thoughts on Joe Willock and NUFC…

Waugh followed up on his Tweet with an article for The Athletic in which he explained that with Isak and Saint-Maximin out, and with regular goalscorer Callum Wilson also often suffering from his own injury problems, Willock needs to become a regular goal threat for the club.

Of course, the Englishman has proved he has that sort of thing in his locker. Indeed, while on loan with Newcastle back in the 2020/21 season, he went on an indelible run where he scored seven league goals in seven consecutive appearances (via Transfermarkt).

It’s been a great season for the Magpies so far, they sit sixth in the league as a result, but with two key forwards out injured the club may be in for a tough spell in the coming weeks. A draw away at Manchester United was a good point last time out, but they drew blank in that game and so it could be a signifier of things to come if Willock can’t step up.