Brazilian superstar lifts the gloom with brilliant goal and pledge to stay at the Bridge

Pedro Clark Willian

OUT of the title race, a Champions League place suddenly under threat, and a League Cup semi-final deficit to make up, Chelsea need good news.

Three points at home against a team battling relegation should have been a given, even if they were hard-earned.

But, for his actions on and off the Stamford Bridge turf on Saturday night, Willian became the bearer of that good news.

The Brazil star scored the goal that papered over the cracks in Chelsea’s goalscoring crisis – and then told the club he is ready to put pen to paper on a new contract.

His superb goal got Maurizio

Sarri’s team out of a hole on a turgid Saturday night, as they struggled to overcome a stubborn and well-organised Newcastle. The Blues turned down a £50million bid for the forward from Barcelona on Thursday, which would have seen £38m winger Malcom come to London in exchange.

Barca are expected to come in with another bid, but Willian pledged his future to the club – and said if Chelsea want him to sign a new contract, he is ready.

The 30-year-old, who has 18 months left on his current deal, said: “My future is here.

“I have one-and-a-half years on my contract left, and I want to stay until it is finished. I don’t know if the club want me to sign a new contract, but my focus is here.

“I would like a new contract. If they want it, I want it. I have been here for five-and-a-half years, won a lot of titles. I am very happy. To play for Chelsea, you have to put your mind to winning titles every year.”

This was no easy ride against Toon, who have now slipped into the bottom three and look in real trouble unless owner Mike Ashley, to whom the fans sang “Get out of our club”, puts his hand in his pocket.

The hosts got off a great start as Pedro scored after eight minutes, but then fell asleep to allow Ciaran Clark to nod Rafa Benitez’s men level. The lack of a goalscorer was glaring – and Willian warned: “We started the game well, and then the team goes down, and that was the problem.

“We have to solve that. If you are a team that wants to win something, you have to play for 90 minutes with concentration and focus.” David Luiz’s superb long ball was fastened onto by Pedro, who chipped Martin Dubravka. But Salomon Rondon and Ayoze Perez both missed good chances – and Clark, culpable for losing Pedro for the opener, redeemed himself by heading in Matt Ritchie’s corner.

Chelsea improved after the break, Eden Hazard laying the ball off to Willian, who curled a lovely shot into the far corner. In the week Cesc Fabregas departed for Monaco, Sarri admitted he would have taken off his talisman Jorginho, who was booed at one stage.

“He lost a lot of balls,” said Sarri. “If Fabregas was on the bench, he would have been on the pitch instead.”