On-loan Newcastle United midfielder Joe Willock has won the EA Sports Premier League player of the month award for May.
The 21-year-old, who joined the Magpies from Arsenal on a temporary basis in January, enjoyed a superb month at St. James’ Park, with his final-day strike at Fulham his seventh goal in seven successive league outings.
Four of his eight goals since joining the club came in the final month of the season, with strikes against Leicester City, Manchester City and Sheffield United adding to his goal at Craven Cottage last weekend.
He became a key player for Steve Bruce’s side during the run-in, helping lift the Magpies to an eventual 12th-placed finish in the top flight.
Willock came out on top after a public vote, beating Tottenham Hotspur’s Gareth Bale, Liverpool’s Alisson Becker and Sadio Mane, Crystal Palace’s Christian Benteke, Aaron Ramsdale of Sheffield United, Nicolas Pepe of Arsenal and Leeds United’s Rodrigo to take the prize.
His award means Newcastle have collected two of the main individual monthly awards in the closing stages of the campaign, with head coach Bruce having picked up the Premier League’s Barclays manager of the month gong for April.