Joe Willock rewarded for excellent form on-loan at Newcastle as he wins May’s Player of the Month award after becoming the first Magpies star to score in seven straight Premier League games since Alan Shearer
- Joe Willock enjoyed a successful spell on loan from Arsenal at Newcastle
- The midfielder ended the season with goals in seven straight league games
- This was the first time a Newcastle player achieved the feat since Alan Shearer
- He has been rewarded for his form winning May’s Player of the Month award
Joe Willock’s fantastic end to the season with Newcastle has been rewarded with May’s EA Sports Player of the Month award.
The 22-year-old Arsenal youngster enjoyed a successful loan-spell at St James’ Park after making the move in January.
Willock became the first Newcastle player to score in seven consecutive Premier League games since the club’s all-time leading scorer Alan Shearer.
Joe Willock scored in seven straight Premier League games to end his loan spell at Newcastle
In doing so he became the first Newcastle player to achieve the feat since Alan Shearer
He also becomes the first Newcastle player to claim the prize since their former goalkeeper Tim Krul in November 2013.
Shearer who scored 206 goals for the Magpies in 405 appearances, took to Twitter to congratulate Willock posting three clapping hands emojis.
After a prolific April, Willock started May with a goal in Newcastle’s shocking 4-2 victory at Leicester City, before finding the net again in a close 4-3 defeat to champions Manchester City.
In the final week he scored the decisive goal in a 1-0 victory over Sheffield United, before matching Shearer’s record with a strike in their 2-0 win over Fulham.
Willock topped an eight-man shortlist that also included Gareth Bale, Alisson Becker, Christian Benteke, Sadio Mane, Nicolas Pepe, Aaron Ramsdale and Rodrigo.
It is uncertain where Willock’s future lies and Newcastle manager Steve Bruce admitted he feared the midfielder had done ‘too well’ in his loan spell at the club.
Willock has been rewarded for his excellent form by winning May’s Player of the Month award
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta said that Willock would be back in London next season, though Bruce intends to test the Spaniard’s resolve.
Ahead of Newcastle’s final game of the season last week, Bruce said: ‘He’s a smashing, smashing lad and he’s really enjoyed it up here. He’s really enjoyed it and I think his father’s enjoyed it too.
‘It’s so refreshing to hear, when a lot of the problems we have – “Oh, we don’t want to go to the north east” – he’s absolutely loved it, so has his father and I’m delighted all round.
‘It’s been a double-edged sword because he’s probably done too well, but let’s see what happens. We’ll see over the summer whether we can test their resolve.
Newcastle boss Steve Bruce is hoping the club can tempt Arsenal to sell Willock this summer
