Former Newcastle United star Steve Howey insists that the club have done well to hand midfielder Joe Willock a six-year contract after signing him on a permanent deal.

Willock enjoyed a spectacular loan spell at the club last season, after moving from the Gunners in the January transfer window.

In total, the midfielder made 14 appearances in the Premier League for the Magpies at the back end of last season and scored eight goals.

Newcastle paid £25m to bring the player into the club on a permanent basis and he has signed a six-year contract at St James’ Park.

Howey believes that Newcastle have protected themselves in terms of big clubs potentially making bids to sign Willock if he thrives during his stay at St James’ Park.

However, he is somewhat doubtful about the potential of Willock downing tools if bids come in while he is only midway through his contract.

Speaking to Football FanCast, Howey said: “I think the club might be thinking, hopefully, and I’m the same, he does absolutely brilliant. If he does brilliantly, they can either keep him or nine times out of ten, what would tend to happen is he would go to what’s classed as one of the other bigger clubs and at least Newcastle have got him tied down for a period of time.

“He’s signed a contract, he’s happy with the contract that he’s signed, as long as you don’t get a player that spits his dummy out and downs tools, because that’s happened in the past with some players, ultimately you’ve got a contract, you’ve got to try to honour that.”