'It doesn't look good': Newcastle fans await further news on Joe Willock after Eddie Howe's early assessment

Joe Willock took just 18 seconds to put Newcastle United ahead in the Carabao Cup clash with Nottingham Forest last night.

But on 15 minutes Willock's night was over after being clattered on the thigh in a challenge a couple of minutes earlier.

Looking at the incident it looked like it was probably just going to be a case of a dead leg for the 25-year-old who spent almost all of last season out through injury.

Willock tried to carry on after treatment but was soon withdrawn and spent the rest of the game watching on from the bench, visibly upset by his rotten luck.

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Eddie Howe's initial feelings on Joe Willock's injury weren't good

Speaking after the game Eddie Howe told the gathered media that his initial thoughts are that it doesn't look good (via The Chronicle).

"We just hope it's not serious. It doesn't look good.

"He's feeling a pain in his thigh so we'll have to wait and see how serious it is."

We've got all extremities crossed for good news on Willock

We are still waiting for an update and are hoping that it is just a dead leg rather than anything that will keep him out of action for any length of time.

In the 15 minutes Willock was on the pitch he showed, once again, just how much we miss him when he's not available. He's always looking to get on the front foot and his driving runs create so many opportunities.

Newcastle have one hell of a player on their hands if he can stay fit, but that's becoming a big 'if'.