Callum Wilson scored against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, but the Newcastle forward wasn’t totally happy with his performance.
The 30-year-old put the result beyond doubt, scoring the Magpies’ second goal after Fabian Schar had broken the deadlock. Wilson’s strike ensured there was no nervy finish at St James’ Park, and it was a wonderful finish.
Newcastle kept possession well in and around the box, before Joelinton’s cross was cleverly diverted into the net by Wilson. It was an instinctive finish from the number nine, who celebrated wildly after a frustrating afternoon.
Now the striker has opened up about his performance in the opening game of the season.
Wilson was ‘frustrated’ against Forest
The £20million man has appeared on the latest episode of the Footballer’s Football podcast alongside Michail Antonio, and discussed the 2-0 victory over Forest. Wilson admitted that he ‘wasn’t pleased’ with his performance, before going into more detail.
“When I scored you could see in my celebration the frustrations came out a little bit because I wasn’t really in the game,” he said.
“I wasn’t playing too great to be honest, but I was grateful to get on the scoresheet.
“Being honest, yes [I would have been fuming if I didn’t score]. Only because I enjoy scoring on the opening day of the season and I wanted to do it again for the third year running for Newcastle, and then the opportunities where I was square and the players didn’t pass the ball I would have been a bit more frustrated at the end of the game.
“I would have been buzzing obviously to get the three points but being a striker you want to score goals and you’re judged on goals.”
Goal changes everything for Wilson
It was a frustrating afternoon for the Toon striker. Chances just weren’t coming his way up until his goal. He had one header that was easily saved by Dean Henderson, but that was about it.
It’s easy to see why Wilson was frustrated. Newcastle spent so much time in and around the box but were unable to find that killer pass for him. He was visibly annoyed shortly before Schar’s opener after Allan Saint-Maximin failed to pick him out for an open goal.
But eventually Wilson got his goal, and what a lovely goal it was. It changed the perspective of his whole performance, and sums up why the striker is so crucial to our efforts. He can be quiet all game and then pop up out of nowhere with a goal.
Hopefully it’s the first of many this season in a Toon shirt. His best tally for Newcastle is 12, but he will hope to eclipse that.
The goal against Forest will give Wilson confidence, and fingers crossed he delivers again on Saturday away to Brighton.