'I really like': Micah Richards picks out Newcastle United player he loves to watch play

Newcastle United have found a new formula for winning games recently and a lot of it hinges on the midfield selection.

Against Arsenal last week, Lewis Hall found himself with Joe Willock and Joelinton ahead of him who were playing off each other brilliantly.

They had an almost telepathic understanding of where the other was going to be in order to create space and get on the overlap. That again worked in the first half against Nottingham Forest before Joelinton was switched to the right.

But it didn't matter who was ahead of Joe Willock as the former Arsenal man was easily Newcastle's best player in the first half of the match. Willock had upped his game from the Arsenal match and was creating his own space to play in and breaking forward at every given opportunity.

Joe Willock was heading towards Player of the Match before he was subbed off

We were genuinely shocked to see him taken off for Sandro Tonali as we thought he was on course for a Player of the Match award. In hindsight, Eddie Howe obviously made the right decision, but at the time it was a head scratcher.

After an injury-ravaged year, it makes sense that Eddie Howe will be taking special care of Willock, especially given his form lately. To lose him again for any length of time would be a hammer blow just as he's finding his form again.

We all know what Willock is capable of, but it has been a long time since we've seen it in action, but he's closer than ever to reaching those heights again.

Micah Richards says Joe Willock has been the key for Newcastle's revival

That's something that certainly hasn't escaped the attention of pundit Micah Richards who was signing Willock's praises on the latest The Rest Is Football podcast.

"I really like Joe Willock. Not just the energy he brings, the way he carries the ball forward. He just bides his team a little bit of time at the right moments and he makes the right passes.

"I just think the addition of brining Willock back in the team, I think that has been the key point for Newcastle."