Having permanently joined Newcastle last summer, Willock struggled with his form for the better part of the first half of this season, but has impressed in recent outings.
The midfielder scored in the Premier League for the first time this season in mid-February and has since managed to add another to his tally, all while playing a key role in Howe’s midfield.
And Willock has revealed that Howe put him arm around him and spoke to him to help him get back to his best, while giving him tactical advice also aided him in regaining his form.
Willock stressed that Howe is humble and approachable, which has helped him and all his Magpies team-mates raise their standards.
Asked what advice Howe gave him to help him find his form again, Willock told NUFC TV: “I feel like, with me he took sort of the route of just putting his arm around me and speaking to me.
“Obviously being hard on me when he needed to be and talking to me when he needed to be and that is something that is benefitting me so much.
“Also obviously, everyone knows he is really tactical and that is helping me on the pitch loads and loads.
“So, that has also helped as well.
“I feel like it is a mixture of everything.
“I feel like all the players, not only me can always go to speak to him, he is a very humble man and that is something that we all appreciate.
“We all know that; we have the confidence in him.
“So, I feel like that has helped me and not only me, everyone else as well.”
Following an extended spell away from the pitch owing to the international break, Newcastle will be back in top flight action at the weekend when they travel to Tottenham Hotspur.
