Despite his reported £80,000-a-week salary at St James` Park, Newcastle midfielder Joe Willock, 26, found himself in a rather relatable predicament when his luxury car ran out of petrol. He was seen wearing a Magpies training top, having come tantalizingly close to a fuel station before his vehicle ultimately stalled.
The high-performance Porsche 911 GT3, capable of speeds up to 199mph, was rendered immobile. To get back on the road, the Newcastle playmaker resorted to manually adding fuel from a green canister. This amusing mishap didn`t go unnoticed, as videos of his roadside struggle quickly appeared online.
In one of the viral clips, a member of the public commented, “Should get you to the garage,” to which Willock humorously replied, “Yeah, hopefully, otherwise I’m f*cking pushing it.” While he expressed gratitude for the assistance, social media users were quick to highlight the irony, with one fan quipping, “All the money and running this car on empty!”
The incident occurred in Cowgate, Newcastle, and marks a second vehicle-related anecdote involving a Newcastle player this year. Previously, in 2025, England international Dan Burn was seen assisting a stranded driver by pushing their car through the city. This prompted another humorous social media comment: “I was expecting Dan Burn to be pushing his car down the street, and I am mildly disappointed.”
This roadside drama adds to a challenging season for Willock. Since his £25 million ($33m) permanent transfer from Arsenal in summer 2021, following a successful loan, the midfielder has seen limited action, managing only 115 minutes and a single start this season.
Manager Eddie Howe has been rotating his squad to handle multiple competitions, including the return of Champions League football for the 2025-26 season. However, Willock has found it difficult to secure a regular spot. His sole start came in a 0-0 draw against Bournemouth on September 21, where he played just over an hour.
Addressing questions about Willock`s apparent lack of morale, Magpies boss Howe stated: “It applies to any player in his situation. Fundamentally, they need to train effectively. When a player isn`t getting the desired game time, they still have daily chances to impress me. And naturally, when they do get on the pitch, they must perform and seize every opportunity to earn more minutes.”
Despite these challenges, Willock is actively working to maintain his fitness and impress Howe. He recently joined several Newcastle teammates, including Kieran Trippier, Jamaal Lascelles, and Will Osula, in Dubai for warm-weather training during the international break. Currently, ten Magpies players are away on international duty.
Howe has previously highlighted the advantages of such training camps, noting, “The purpose of a warm-weather camp is to provide a fresh environment, something new to stimulate the players, hoping we return in excellent condition and ready for action.”
Willock and his teammates will aim to return to England feeling rejuvenated and eager to resume play. Newcastle, currently 11th in the Premier League with nine points from seven matches, is set to face Brighton away on October 18.
