Every manager I have ever known has had his favourites. It is natural. Backing players you not only rate but believe you can rely upon.
However some sneak under the radar. At Newcastle Joe Willock is probably one. Despite the fact that in most minds Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton when fit have battened down two positions in a three-man midfield, Willock has started every game Newcastle have played this season in the Premier League and League Cup.
Even though he has had to often battle Sean Longstaff and fan-fancy Elliot Anderson for that last position in the engine room. And even though he has failed to score this season when breaking from the middle of the park to finish is his obvious main strength. However the figure that stands out is not his lack of goals but his total of starts.
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The secret from Willock's point of view of course is keeping it going given that United are growing at a rapid rate of knots and names like James Maddison will always be lurking in the background come the reopening of the transfer window, while Anderson is a gold plated prospect and Jonjo Shelvey is on his way back. The challenge is obvious.
To many Toon disciples Willock, who cost £25m when eventually signed permanently, has spectacularly failed to live up to early promise following a record breaking seven successive matches of scoring at the back end of his first season. Frankly for a midfielder that was never going to be repeated, but even so Willock has not managed one this season. Regardless Eddie Howe picks an athlete who gets round the pitch effortlessly and why was underlined at Fulham when he was a star performer among many.
United's manager does not back failure but he does back those who convince him and the confidence that produces in players has been evident beyond Willock. Think of Joelinton initially, of Fabian Schar and Emil Krafth, of Miggy Almiron.
It is easy to forget that Joe is only just 23 years of age yet has totted up 54 first-team appearances since moving out of his comfort zone at Arsenal to the other end of the country. The Gunners in his absence may have soared to the top of the Premier League, but Willock is part of another interesting project here and will be desperate to continue to play his part.
Incidentally talking of players who managers feel they can trust there was an interesting team selection at Fulham which underlined the point. Sven Botman, who has been frustrated by what he perceives as limited game time since signing, was brought back into United's starting line-up but his elevation failed to dislodge Dan Burn.
Not for the first time Burn was shifted out to left-back while Howe restricted no less than three orthodox left-backs to his subs bench in Matt Targett, Paul Dummett, and Jamal Lewis. Burn has started seven of United's eight PL matches this season and got on as a sub on the one occasion he was not originally selected.
Yes, the likes of Willock and Burn are doing something right - and consistently so - in the eyes of their manager.
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