Newcastle United striker Callum Wilson retains the belief that he can stay fit and score the goals that can secure his future at the club and plot a path back to a possible England recall.
After being blighted by injuries this year, Wilson finally made his return to the first team on Monday night – summoned from the bench by Eddie Howe as Newcastle chased the game against West Ham.
It was a welcome return for the 32-year-old. Only three clubs have scored fewer league goals than Newcastle this season, a stat that points towards why they have failed to kick on despite a few encouraging results this term. Wilson – who has 88 goals in 222 Premier League appearances – has the potential to change that, offering variability to Newcastle’s attack and helping them return to the top four conversation.
But they need him to stay fit, something he is acutely aware of. i understands the slightly lengthier delay in returning is due to Newcastle not wishing to rush him back and risk another breakdown. He has been carrying out a thorough analysis of his issues, addressing sleep, movement and even nutrition in an effort to avoid any further fitness problems.
“I’ve done a lot of analysis into the body, changed a lot of things and hopefully now put an end to the setbacks,” Wilson revealed after coming through the second half at St James’ Park unscathed.
“I’ve seen a lot of specialists, done different analysis of the body, how you run, how you move, how you sleep, how you eat to put an end to the setbacks you have to go through.
“Nobody likes to get injured, you try your best and nobody can guarantee anything but I think to get to this point in my career with the setbacks I’ve had I have to give myself credit for keeping bouncing back.
“But it’s about not having to [do that] now.”
No-one doubts Wilson’s ability but his return comes at a time when Newcastle are going through a thorough recruitment rethink. A one-year extension to his contract was triggered last year but Wilson will be out of contract in the summer and, as yet, there have been no discussions about a renewal.
That’s understandable given his fitness issues. Everyone has concentrated on getting him fit and firing before his future comes into view. But has it come onto the player’s radar at all?
“I’m not thinking about it to be honest,” he tells i.
“You can only focus on the current situation – that, first and foremost, was getting fit and from there you build on that, stay fit, score your goals and then it’s down to the club on how things progress and like I say, as a striker you score goals and get yourself longevity don’t you?”
Wilson’s future plugs into the culture wars around Newcastle’s transfer policy. There is a perception – not quite true, as it turns out – that Howe would prefer to retain the core of his squad while others are pulling for a reset and to sell certain players.
The truth is more prosaic. Wilson is a great scorer of goals at the top level and bringing in a replacement with his ability, experience and attitude would cost tens of millions of pounds for a club with well-publicised Profitability and Sustainability Rules issues. If Wilson can stay fit, renewing his deal for another year is a smart move.
They would be pushing at an open door if they did re-enter talks.
“I love playing for this club, I joined many years ago and helped the club numerous times throughout the years and I want to be a part of it,” Wilson says.
“It’s about getting going and getting out there – as long as I’m on the pitch I have no doubt I’ll score goals but it’s about staying on the pitch.”
One of the things that people often talk about with Wilson is his mental resilience. As well as rebounding from knockbacks he still backs himself to score – and has the ambition of hitting 100 Premier League goals while still in a Newcastle shirt. He is 12 short and if he stays fit you wouldn’t back against him.
That might even put him in the frame for an England recall. Apart from Ollie Watkins and Harry Kane, there are few traditional strikers like Wilson left in the Premier League. Given Thomas Tuchel’s mission is a short-term one, it’s not a foolish aspiration.
“Of course you always have one eye on international football,” Wilson says.
“There’s a long period of time now until the next camp and there’s a lot of games to be played before then. I never really would shut down anything like that but your football for Newcastle takes care of that.
“If I’m on the pitch I’ll score goals, if I score goals you get yourself in the England squad.”
Newcastle fans should welcome those sentiments. The true ceiling for their team still isn’t clear – after four wins they suffered a sizeable setback against West Ham. But the ambition in the camp remains to compete at the elite level.
“There’s a lot of potential in that dressing room, a strong squad and it’s about making sure we can put the club where it deserves to be and where the squad warrants,” Wilson says.
“We had a taste of Champions League football and want to get back there.”
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