Newcastle United have secured Champions League football for next season.
The Magpies will be back at the top table of European football next term, and Eddie Howe deserves massive credit for the job he’s done on Tyneside.
Howe has transformed Newcastle in just a few short years, and he’s done so by demanding a lot from his team and setting high standards.
One thing that is emblematic of a poorly run club is timekeeping issues.
Anthony Martial was often late at Manchester United as their standards slipped, while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had similar issues at Arsenal, leading to his release by Mikel Arteta.
Speaking to Pro Direct Soccer, Lewis Hall has been discussing any potential issues around lateness at Newcastle, and he says that one player in particular is often being punished for this sort of thing.
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
Joe Willock always receives fines for being late
Hall was asked to name which player is always late.
The left-back says Joe Willock is often late to training, and he receives a number of fines for these indiscretions.
Anthony Gordon has said similar about Willock in the past, and it would appear timekeeping is an issue for the £25m midfielder.
“Who is always late to things?” Hall was asked.
“Joe Willock,” Hall said.
“Is he late every day?” The interviewer asked.
“No, it’s not every day, but he’s the one with the most fines. A lot of it is money-orientated, but we also have a wheel to spin and there’s money on it. I think the highest amount is £190,” Hall said.
How much does Joe Willock earn?
Joe Willock appears to be running up quite the tab in terms of late fines at Newcastle, but that shouldn’t be too much of a problem for him.
Indeed, as Hall says, the maximum fine at Newcastle stands at £190, and, while that’s a lot of money for most people, for Premier League footballers, it’s a drop in the ocean.
Joe Willock reportedly earns £80,000-a-week, via Capology, so he’d be able to pay off those fines with ease, numerous times over.
Of course, turning up late doesn’t reflect well on Willock, and that’s something he really should address if he wants to cement himself as a starter at Newcastle going forwards.