Tuesday night saw a number of Newcastle United players make their debuts in the Champions League.
Over the next few years as PIF continue to invest in the club, it stands to reason that Newcastle will soon start to bring in more players with experience at the highest level.
Still, with the club back in the Champions League after just one full season under their new ownership, it gave a number of Eddie Howe’s squad their first chance to experience life at the top table.
One of those was a certain Callum Wilson.
Callum Wilson shares heartfelt message after Champions League debut
Indeed, the £20m striker was brought on for Anthony Gordon just after the hour mark, with starting striker Alexander Isak shunted out wide.
While it was not the England international’s most productive night, with WhoScored data noting Wilson had just seven touches and failed to produce a single shot, it’s not as if Newcastle were playing particularly well in an attacking sense when he arrived on the pitch.
What his appearance did do, however, was cap off a remarkable rise.
The 31-year-old began his career at Coventry and spent time on loan with Kettering Town and Tamworth in the Conference before moving to Bournemouth and making an impact in the Premier League.
That earned him a move to Newcastle in 2020, where he now plays Champions League football of course.
“On a personal note, it’s been a long road… from the Conference to the Champions League!!” he wrote on Twitter.
“Moral of the story: Never give up on your dreams, work hard and let nothing get in your way.
“Thank you to everyone who’s helped me on this journey.”
Europe the last stage for Wilson to conquer
Having proven himself at pretty much every level, the European stage would be the last for Wilson to conquer, given Harry Kane has shown little sign of dropping out of the England team.
After recently signing a new contract, there’s every chance he can do that with Newcastle. Whether that comes in the Champions League or in the Europa League obviously remains to be seen but, given his work in a black and white shirt thus far, it would be foolish not to back him to do so.
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