After an impressive performance in Newcastle United's annihilation of Tottenham that included one of the seasons best assists, Joe Willock was compared to Ronaldinho and Luka Modric.

The midfielder has been given the nickname "Willockinho" by his Newcastle teammate Bruno Guimaraes, and on Sunday, he more than lived up to it.

In a 6-1 victory, Willock—whom coach Eddie Howe is supporting for an England call-up—created what may have been the game's most memorable play when he sent Alexander Isak away for the fourth of five goals in the opening twenty-one minutes with a magnificent outside-of-the-boot pass.

That was Willock's fifth assist in the Premier League this season to go with three goals as one of the key men in a Newcastle team closing on Champions League qualification.

Only Kieran Trippier (five) and Guimaraes (four) created more than Willock's three chances against Spurs, and the Brazil international was suitably impressed.

Guimaraes told reporters: "Willockinho, with his new hair today... he looked like Ronaldinho and played like him, too.

"An amazing through ball for [Isak's] goal. What a pass. Only Modric can play a pass like that. It was amazing."

Newcastle climbed back up to third with the win, now six points ahead of their fifth-placed opponents and still with a game in hand.

Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion are perhaps better placed to challenge Newcastle than Tottenham, though, and Guimaraes knows the job is not yet done.

"Of course we are thinking about the Champions League, but let's take it step by step," he said.

"We can do it, of course, but there's still seven games to go. We started this way – now let's finish the season this way."