Joe Willock enjoying ‘new lease of life’ under Matthias Jaissle after Newcastle rejected £17m transfer bid for star

JOE WILLOCK is loving his “new lease of life” at Newcastle under Matthias Jaissle. The midfielder, 27, has been stuck on the bench for most of the past two seasons under Eddie Howe and was set to leave this summer. Joe Willock is back to his best at Newcastle Credit: Alamy The star fired the Magpies to victory over Millwall in the Carabao Cup Credit: Shutterstock The ex-Arsenal man, out of contract next June, is instead now due to begin talks over a potential 12-month extension having reignited his Toon career under the new German boss. Newcastle rejected a £17m offer from Besiktas last week on Jaissle’s insistence. Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! And the star, who fired the Mags to victory in the Carabao Cup at Millwall, says it is nice to feel appreciated by the 38-year-old Jaissle. Willock said: “I feel valued. It is like my fifth year at the club and I am really maturing in the way I think towards the team and getting older. “There are a lot of young players coming in. It is a different role for me this season. I want to help others and push on in my career as well. “The new manager has given me a new lease of life, I am really happy he’s here and happy working under him. “He is a really young exciting coach and we are all learning a lot from him. It is good times to be a Newcastle player.” Newcastle head to Leeds on Monday still unbeaten under Jaissle. Most read in Sport CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS While the newly-assembled young team is still in transition after the departures of big-hitters Bruno Guimaraes, Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali, Willock says the club can still achieve something memorable this term. He added: “I am happy to still be here. It is a massive club and a club that has played a big part in my career. “I am really happy to still be wearing the badge and this shirt and giving my all. And giving my all. It is an important club for me. I am looking to push forward. “We have big aspirations so hopefully we can reach those goals.” Comment now