"I'll show you" - Joe Willock buys into PIF's Newcastle United dream as real Magpies hit back

It was at Wembley in February 2023 that Joe Willock took one long gaze at the Newcastle United fans after the Carabao Cup final and simply shook his head in amazement.

That day the Magpies lost 2-0 to Manchester United but long after the final whistle, and amid the celebrations for the Red Devils, the Geordie faithful had it in them to stay behind and applaud in great numbers. As difficult as it was Willock soaked that moment up and left the venue of legends with a steely determination to one day be back as a winner.

It was a day in which Newcastle chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan also sportingly applauded Man United players as they picked up their winners medals. But now both the PIF supremo and stars like Willock are hungrier than ever to deliver the club's trophy dream.

United may have lost to Manchester United that day but the memories of that cup run, as packed trains headed down to Kings Cross from Newcastle, Trafalgar Square was taken over and London was dubbed Newcastle upon Thames, will never die. The magic of the cup was conjured up again this week in what many fans hope is the season's turning point - and that man Willock was at the epicentre of it at St James' Park - now he feels that there is a genuine shot at glory in this season's competition.

As Newcastle can now look ahead to a quarter-final against Brentford in December, Willock admits he can feel that magic coming back and paying tribute to the fans who endured disappointment at Wembley back then and the raucous St James' Park faithful on Wednesday night, he told Chronicle Live: "It's amazing. Our fans are the best fans in the world, I've said it many times before, and I'll keep saying it. We are so grateful to have them.

"What they did is give us the extra push that we needed on the night. At times they were the difference for us. We are so grateful to them for that."

And reflecting on his own personal performance, with Willock surely a contender to start against his old club Arsenal on Saturday, he is focused. His body language on the pitch against Chelsea in midweek said it all as he terrified the Blues defence on his return to the starting XI.

Willock said: "I was happy, I think it was a good performance and brilliant to win again in front of our fans. We have something to build on now.

"We want to be in a Carabao Cup final again, we have been there before and had a taste of it. But now we are hungry to get there again. Not only get there again but this time go all the way."

Willock has offered a unique insight to life under Eddie Howe this season by insisting all thoughts of personal glory at Newcastle United must be left at the door.

Willock is hoping to be fit and firing again and looked close to being back to his brilliant best in the 2-0 win over Chelsea after overcoming early-season thigh issues. At 25 the former England under-21 star is still young enough and capable enough to be in the conversation for a place in Thomas Tuchel's World Cup squad in 2026.

That was his aim when he spoke to reporters in the bowels of the iconic Saitama Stadium 2002 in pre-season, after making two assists in a 4-1 win over J-League side Urawa Red Diamonds, that Willock spoke about his aim to pull on an England jersey, hopefully at the World Cup finals.

It's three years ago now since Willock signed for Newcastle on loan and went on to grab seven Premier League goals in seven matches to do something only Alan Shearer has managed in a Toon shirt. If he can continue making those trademark runs into the box and becoming the "goal threat and creator" Eddie Howe has described him as, it will catch the eye of England scouts for sure.

His hunger for goals was evident in the aftermath of the game as he disputed Axel Disasi's own goal at the Leazes End. Willock's leap saw the roof raised at St James' and as he looks to bring goals to his game, he quipped: "I think it's my goal to be fair! It was on target so I don't understand how it's not my goal.

"Even though it was deflected it was on target. It is crazy if they don't give it to me but it is what it is."

The conversation then turns back to his seven goals in seven games three years ago, a run he'd love to repeat. The list of Willock's goals is an impressive one with a strike against Southampton coming on his debut in a 3-2 win under Steve Bruce, a dramatic equaliser at Anfield to stun Liverpool and then boss Jurgen Klopp and the winner against West Ham in his first season alone.

He's netted impressive winners against Chelsea and Man United in 2023 and who can forget his thunderbolt at Old Trafford in the 3-0 Carabao Cup rout last term? With one to his name against Nottingham Forest this term, you get the feeling there's more to come but for Willock it's not just about the goals.

The Arsenal Academy graduate said: "I think so yeah. But for me, it is about staying healthy, getting in there and getting fitter. Eventually, I'll show what I can do."

The Newcastle star has waited patiently for his chance to start games in recent weeks and while it has looked tricky getting into the midfield three ahead of Sanrdo Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton, the truth is, United looked strong against the Blues on Wednesday with a cup rejig.

Out came Bruno for a rest while Sean Longstaff got a chance and Willock played on the left-hand side. Waiting for a chance then taking it is seemingly the 25-year-old's mantra.

He reflected: "To be honest it is all trying to push each other on you know. Competition is high. But it will always be high, and we want to be a top club. So it is going to be. We will look forward to keep on competing together and hopefully win more games."

With Arsenal due on Tyneside for lunchtime showdown Willock will hope he can play a big part against the Gunners. It was Willock who kept a hotly disputed ball in play before Anthony Gordon grabbed the winner to see of Arsenal in a 1-0 win last one year ago.

Willock needs no motivation for this powderkeg clash at Gallowgate, he said: "Definitely - a big game and one which we are playing at home. We are looking forward to it so we will attack it with everything we have We will try to win the game."

It's all eyes on St James' Park on Saturday afternoon, Newcastle and Willock might just be back you know.