Newcastle v Sheffield United player ratings: Willock 8, Saint-Maximin 9; Ramsdale 9, Osborn 4

Magpies defeat rock-bottom Blades after Arsenal loan-signing scores for sixth game in a row

NEWCASTLE RATINGS: Martin Dubravka - 7: Spectator in first half apart although was helpless when McGoldrick put early sitter wide of target. Egan’s soft header straight into his hands after 70 minutes was first save he had to make. Beaten all ends up by another McGoldrick shot that hit top of bar with 13 minutes left. Tweaked hamstring and finished game with heavy bandaging. PA

Emil Krafth - 7: Hadn't put foot wrong until 10 minutes from time when he made right mess of dealing with cross and almost gifted Sheffield United a chance. ATP

Federico Fernendez - 7: Tame header straight at Ramsdale in first half but, McGoldrick apart, faced little threat from weak opposition attack and was cool and composed at back. Getty.

Paul Dummett - 8: Headed Shelvey free-kick wide of target just after 35 minutes and was generally solid as rock at the back for the Magpies. Getty

Jacob Murphy - 7: A couple of magnificent crosses from right in first half: one headed miles over bar by Joelinton, one headed into bottom corner by Willock. PA

Jonjo Shelvey - 7: Thought he’d opened scoring with header from Ritchie cross in first half but denied by fine Ramsdale save. Reuters

Joe Willock - 8: Five goals on the spin going into the game, the on-loan midfielder made it six in a row with excellent header into corner from Murphy cross. Youngest Premier League player to achieve that feat. Given standing ovation when substituted late on with what looked like cramp. Getty

Matt Ritchie - 7: Inch-perfect cross on to Shelvey’s head almost led to opening goal. Curled ambitious long-range free-kick from right over the bar. Harshly judged to have fouled Basham on edge of box just after half-time but McGoldrick fired free-kick wide. A key man for Newcastle in last part of season. Getty

Miguel Almiron - 7: Had first shot on target after two minutes but hit straight at Ramsdale. Flashed another strike at start of second wide of goal. Used his pace well and had opposition on back foot with a couple of surging runs. AFP

Allan Saint-Maximim - 9: Early mazy run through several challenges was ominous warning for away side and he tormented the Blades throughout. Lovely defence-splitting pass out wide for Murphy that led to opening goal. Denied goal by good Ramsdale block after leaving Egan for dead in second half. Limped off injured with 20 minutes to go. Reuters

Joelinton - 3: Sloppy start to game and gifted possession to Blades that almost led to McGoldrick opening scoring. Picked up a knock, seemed to signal to bench he wanted to come off but limped on. Headed great chance from Murphy cross high into Gallowgate end in embarrassing fashion. Didn’t reappear for second half. Getty

SUBS: Dwight Gayle – (On for Joelinton 46’) 4: Could tell he has hardly played lately and looked off the pace, giving ball away too easily. PA

Sean Longstaff – (On for Saint-Maximin 70’) 6: Slotted straight into midfield, tackled and knocked the ball around well. PA

Andy Carroll – (On for Willock 88’) N/A. Big striker given warm reception in what could be his final appearance as contract is up this summer. Reuters

SHEFFIELD UNITED RATINGS: Aaron Ramsdale - 9: Fantastic one-handed save from Shelvey header in first half and injured shoulder as result that needed treatment. Made another fine stop to deny Willock, although belated offside flag eventually up. Saved well from Saint-Maximin just after break. Getty

Chris Basham - 6: Made to look silly on several occasions by Saint-Maximin, as were many of his teammates, to be fair. No such problems dealing with the woeful Joelinton in first half. Reuters

John Egan - 5: Excellent sliding block on cross at start of second half that heading for Magpies substitute Gayle’s feet. Weak header straight at Dubravka was first Blades attempt on target with 20 minutes to go. Tormented by Saint-Maximin at times. AP

Jack Robinson - 6: Fine clearance away under pressure after Ramsdale had saved from Willock, before flag went up for offside. Stuck to task up against dangerous Magpie trio Willock, Almiron and Saint-Maximin. AFP

Jayden Bogle - 6: Good run down right in first 10 minutes but fizzing low cross into middle failed to find teammate. Headed chance way over in second half and couldn't stop Willock nodding in winner. AP

Enda Stevens - 5: Teed-up McGoldrick only for teammate to wasted golden early chance. Booked for pulling down a marauding Saint-Maximin just outside of box after 30 minutes. Reuters

John Fleck - 6: Crunching tackle on Willock in first five minutes but spent rest of half chasing Newcastlke shadows. Decent cross early in second half that Bogle headed over. Getty

Oliver Norwood - 5: First-half booking for hauling down Willock. Struck one shot straight over bar like a rugby conversion just before the hour. Reuters

Ben Osborn - 4: How little impact he had on game summed up by the fact there were no live images of him in action at St James' Park. Hooked with 20-odd minutes to go. Getty

Daniel Jebbison - 5: Teenage attacker scored the winner against Everton last time out but no opportunity for repeat show here. PA

David McGoldrick.- 7: Should have opened scoring after seven minutes but side-footed shot wide of target from inside box. Scooped another chance way over bar minutes later. Hit free-kick from right on edge of area wide of target at start of second half. Unlucky to see cracking strike hit top of crossbar. The one Blade to offer some cutting edge. Getty

SUBS: Rhys Brewster – (On for Osborn 67’) 5: Record signing still yet to score his first Premier League goal and never looked like breaking that duck here. Femi Seriki - (On for Bogle 90+3') N/A. Getty

Joe Willock scored for a sixth successive Premier League game to hand Newcastle United a 1-0 victory over bottom club Sheffield United.

On a night when Allan Saint-Maximin was a constant menace to the visitor's defence, the 10,000 home fans allowed into St James' Park for the first time since February last year made it clear they want 21-year-old Arsenal loanee Willock to make Tyneside his permanent home next season.

The win took Newcastle to 42 points, two fewer than they managed last season with a game to play away to Fulham on Sunday.

However, it was the visitors who should have taken the lead after seven minutes when David McGoldrick was put through on goal but missed the target with just goalkeeper Martin Dubravka to beat.

The former Republic of Ireland striker fired another chance high over the bar four minutes later.

Magpies midfielder Jonjo Shelvey then thought he had opened the scoring but was denied by a brilliant Aaron Ramsdale save. Saint-Maximin and Matt Ritchie combined down the left before the Scot floated in a cross which Shelvey met with a firm downward header, only to see the Blades goalkeeper  throw out a hand and palm it away.

Newcastle took the lead in first-half injury-time. Saint-Maximin picked out Jacob Murphy's run down the right with an inch-perfect pass and he crossed into the middle for midfielder Willock to head home into the corner.

McGoldrick clipped the bar with a fine 77th-minute attempt which sent Dubravka back-pedalling desperately towards his line, but that was as close as the Blades came to rescuing a point.

On the prospects of keeping Willock at Newcastle, manager Steve Bruce said: "As I have said before, it's a doubled-edged sword. We have to respect he's Arsenal's player. If we can, we'd love to bring him here. Let's see what we can do because he's exactly what we needed.

"Joe has still got a lot to learn but we have given him a freedom and a licence to get forward. He is a young player enjoying his football."

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