Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has condemned the "horrible" racist abuse aimed at midfielder Joe Willock in the wake of Sunday’s Premier League win over Crystal Palace.
The Magpies called in police after the 26-year-old was targeted online in an attack described by the club as “deeply disturbing".
Head coach Howe said: "It’s absolutely horrible. I really felt for Joe, to have to read that and absorb the words that were sent to him. Just his reaction, again, I thought was first-class.
"It’s such a shame that any football player or any sportsman or any individual has to read those words, and I can’t support him enough and give him love at this moment.”
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Threats also included threats of violence towards Willock and his family.
After the incident, Willock reposted the vile series of direct messages on his Instagram account, along with the response.
He said: "I pray you and your family find God. And may him (sic) have mercy on you.”
The former Arsenal player was also the victim of social media abuse in February last year.
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has condemned the 'horrible' racist abuse aimed at midfielder Joe Willock
| GETTYHowe also made sure to distance himself from the managerial vacancy at Manchester United after being touted as a replacement for Ruben Amorim by Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt.
The 48-year-old, who was linked with the job at Old Trafford before Amorim was appointed 14 months ago and mentioned briefly in dispatches at the weekend after Chelsea dispensed with the services of Enzo Maresca, figured prominently in a list of potential replacements discussed by the two highly-respected former United midfielders on their podcast, The Good, the Bad and the Football.
However, Howe, who was equally unequivocal when his name was thrown into the hat for the England manager’s job following Gareth Southgate’s departure, was swift to reiterate his “100 per cent” commitment to the Magpies.
Asked if that remained the case, he said: “Yes, absolutely. Nothing has changed from my perspective."
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Willock reposted the vile series of direct messages on his Instagram account
|GETTY
He added: "I’m 100 per cent here, working as hard as I can, head down, ignoring all the stuff that you guys write good or bad because it’s irrelevant.
"It’s about today’s work and trying to prepare the team as well as we can for Leeds, so that will never change from my perspective, my commitment to my work and my job.
"As long as I’m happy and able to express myself in the best way that I can to help the team, nothing will change.”
Howe, who led Newcastle to a first major domestic trophy in 70 years last year, is in his fifth season at St James’ Park and signed a “long-term” contract extension during the summer of 2022.
Eddie Howe led Newcastle to a first major domestic trophy in 70 years last year
|GETTY
He did so after insisting during the summer of 2024, as the speculation over England rumbled on, that he was keen to stay where he was as long as he remained "happy” and "supported", an oblique reference to off-field tensions with sporting director Paul Mitchell, who has since left the club.
Asked if there was anything which could tempt him away from St James’, he replied: "No, not at this current time.
"The most important thing for me is happiness in the role, happiness in the job, the relationships I have with the people around me. Now, that’s not always been consistently good and things can change at any football club.
"But, at the moment, I am very happy."
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