Former Premier League striker Alan Shearer lavished praise on Newcastle United ace Joe Willock for his impressive performance during Wednesday’s 2-0 win over Chelsea.
Just three days after falling to a 2-1 Premier League defeat against the Blues at Stamford Bridge, the Magpies got their sweet taste of vengeance when both sides renewed acquaintances in the EFL Cup fourth-round clash at St. James’ Park.
Eddie Howe made five changes to the side that lost at Stamford Bridge, but a number of his big guns still made the starting line-up, with the English gaffer keen to steer the Magpies to League Cup success.
Unlike his English counterpart, Enzo Maresca opted to make wholesale changes to his XI, which has been a hallmark of his team selection in cup games this season.
However, he was made to rue that decision as Newcastle eliminated the five-time Carabao Cup winners courtesy of an Alexander Isak effort and an own goal from Axel Disasi in the space of three first-half minutes.
Willock was one of five players to make the Newcastle squad for the game in Tyneside, and he repaid the manager’s faith with an impressive performance during his 63 minutes on the pitch.
“Great counter-attack from Newcastle there,” Shearer said on BBC Live. “Joe Willock gets the ball on the halfway line, and no one was going to stop him.
“Doesn’t half make a difference when he is in the team, picking the ball up and driving the team 30-40 yards up the pitch.”
Willock played an important part in Newcastle’s crucial win that propelled them into the quarter-final of the League Cup.
The Magpies are hoping to replicate their 2023 run to the final in Wembley Stadium, where they missed out on the title after an agonising defeat against Manchester United.
They’ll face Brentford in the last four and will fancy their chances of progressing to the semi-finals, although their immediate focus will be on this weekend’s mouth-watering Premier League clash against Arsenal on home turf.
