Aaron Ramsdale is set to join Newcastle from Southampton on a season-long loan deal, and if he wants to make a good impression, he should take a leaf out of Joe Willock's book.
Willock's instant impact at Newcastle
Willock joined Newcastle on loan from Arsenal in February 2021, when the club was struggling in 16th place, just seven points above the relegation zone. By the end of his loan spell, Newcastle had climbed to 12th place, largely thanks to Willock's impressive performances.
The midfielder scored eight goals in 14 games, making him Newcastle's second highest scorer that season, behind only Callum Wilson. He also became the youngest player in Premier League history to score in six consecutive matches, a record that has since been broken by Manchester United's Rasmus Hojlund.
Willock's record-breaking goal streak
Willock's goal-scoring streak began with a dramatic equaliser against Tottenham Hotspur, followed by winners against West Ham and Leicester City. He also scored an injury-time equaliser against Liverpool and found the net in a thrilling 4-3 defeat to Manchester City.
His goal against Sheffield United saw him create Premier League history, as he became the youngest player to score in six consecutive matches at the age of 21 years and 272 days. He then equalled Alan Shearer's record of scoring in seven consecutive matches for Newcastle.
Willock's permanent move to Newcastle
After his successful loan spell, Newcastle boss Steve Bruce urged the board to sign Willock permanently, and they did so in a £25 million transfer. Since then, Willock has scored ten more goals in 129 appearances for the club, helping them win their first major domestic trophy in 70 years, the Carabao Cup, last season.
Willock's injury update
Unfortunately, Willock's progress has been hampered by a recent injury. He was stretchered off the pitch during a pre-season loss to a K-League XI in South Korea after a late collision. Manager Eddie Howe confirmed that Willock had injured a muscle in his calf, but the injury was not as bad as initially feared. He is expected to be out for four to six weeks.
