Exciting Joe Willock comments from Toon teammate as NUFC star hands Howe huge boost

Sean Longstaff has hailed Joe Willock following his return to fitness, saying "it doesn't look like he's missed a minute" after impressing in training this week.

The 24-year-old made his first appearance since May in our 1-0 defeat to Dortmund and has clearly made an immediate impression this week after being pictured back on the grass with his Toon teammates.

Longstaff believes he is one of the key reasons we'll cope without Sandro Tonali; who looks set to be suspended for 10 months following illegal betting.

Our local lad feels "the team plays its best when he is in it", insisting "no-one can do what he does" when it comes to his movement and pace on and off the ball. With Tonali banned and Elliot Anderson sidelined with a back injury, he's returned at the ideal time.

Here's what Longstaff had to say, explaining why Willock's return is "the big one" to help us cope without Tonali:

"I'm confident we can cope. We don't know the outcome yet, but we've got Joe Willock coming back from injury, Joelinton fit again and Elliot Anderson has stepped up massively. And then we've got the little superstar Lewis Miley coming through, who I absolutely love.

"The big one is Willock coming back. I could talk all day about how good he is and even watching him in training this week, it doesn't look like he's missed a minute. I'm just really excited to have him back. 

"We know how important he is - the team plays its best when he is in it. No-one can do what he does in terms of the way he moves off the ball and how confident he is on it. Hopefully he can show what he can do on this stage as well."