Joe Willock responds as ex-Arsenal teammate Reiss Nelson shares injury update
Newcastle United star Joe Willock has responded to Fulham winger and former Arsenal teammate Reiss Nelson after the winger shared an update on his injury.
Nelson was linked with moves to West Ham and Leicester City before securing a loan switch to Fulham from Arsenal last summer.
However, the 25-year-old has been sidelined for the past two months due to a hamstring injury, preventing him from making further appearances for the club.
Before his setback, Nelson had featured 12 times for Fulham, scoring two goals and providing one assist. He was beginning to establish himself in the team, as he was handed a run of five consecutive Premier League starts before suffering the injury.
The Arsenal loanee recently took to social media to provide fans with an update on his recovery, prompting messages of support from former teammates, including Willock.
Joe Willock sends message of support to Reiss Nelson
The winger took to Instagram to provide an update on his injury, revealing that he has now undergone surgery.
Willock showed his support by sharing Nelson’s post on his Instagram story, adding the caption: “Keep your head high, brother. You got this. Love you longtime.”
Nelson suffered the injury in December, which has already ruled him out of 13 games this season, with no confirmed recovery timeline.
Injuries have been a recurring issue for the winger throughout his career. He missed 17 matches during the 2022/23 season, and his loan spell at Feyenoord was also disrupted by multiple setbacks.
Fulham adapt to Nelson absence with Willian’s return
Willock has become an important player for Newcastle, and Nelson was beginning to carve out a similar path at Fulham before his injury.
In response to his absence, the West London club moved to strengthen their attack during the January transfer window, re-signing Willian on a free transfer.
Willian rejected a move to Saudi Arabia in favour of staying in the Premier League, and Fulham will be hoping he can replicate his impact from last season.
As for Nelson, it remains unclear how long he will be sidelined, but having undergone surgery, he is expected to face a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
The injury couldn’t have come at a worse time for the winger, just as he was building momentum and proving himself at the club. With his future at Arsenal still uncertain, the setback only adds to the uncertainty.
His contract with the Gunners is set to expire in 2025, and while no talks have advanced regarding a possible extension, his focus will now be on making a full recovery.