Newcastle United thrashed Brentford at the weekend, but striker Callum Wilson has admitted he was ‘disappointed’ after the game.
The 30-year-old started up front for the Magpies, having made his return the week prior against Fulham. He returned in fine form, brushing off some early rustiness to score at Craven Cottage. Although he did pinch the goal from teammate Joe Willock.
Wilson went from poacher to provider on Saturday. He got the assist for Newcastle’s second goal. The forward capitalised on an error from goalkeeper David Raya, then squared it across the box for Jacob Murphy.
It was intelligent play by Wilson, who now has four goal contributions this season in five games.
Newcastle put on a real show against Brentford, scoring five times – even if one of them was an own goal by Ethan Pinnock.
But Wilson was unable to get in on the act, and is not happy that he was taken off early again.
Why Callum Wilson was disappointed against Brentford
Wilson’s number went up in the 84th minute. He was taken off before the end of the game and replaced by Chris Wood.
Now the £20million striker has commented on being substituted on the latest episode of the Footballer’s Football Podcast.
“I was probably disappointed, even though we won 5-1, I was disappointed because I’m hungry to score goals and trying to make up for lost time,” he said.
“You want to be playing every minute of every game, but obviously I saw my number come up again and we were 4-1 up and I was like not again!
“We’d just brought on Saint-Maximin and Joelinton and he made some positive subs, attacking players where the game was going to open up and I’d find myself in all sorts of space.
“I was thinking he’s coming on, rubbing my hands together, and next time the ball went out of play my number went up. I was like ‘na, na, na, surely this isn’t happening to me again’.
“But you have to stand by your decisions as a manager, it’s a good laugh afterwards and obviously I didn’t score.”
Howe putting the team first
It’s easy to understand Wilson’s frustration. He wants to score goals and make up for lost time after a spell out injured. And he must have been licking his lips at how limp the Brentford defence was.
But Howe made the right call again. He took Wilson off early against Fulham and he did it again on Saturday.
While the decision might disappoint him, Howe is putting the team first and looking at the bigger picture.
Newcastle need Wilson fit and firing every week. He may have scored a hat-trick in the final five minutes at the weekend, but it would have been for nothing if he’d got injured in the process.
Wilson wants to be scoring goals to get into the England World Cup squad, but what’s best for Newcastle has to come first.
That means a fit Callum Wilson leading the line for Newcastle in the moments that matter. He will likely start again on Sunday, and can hopefully end his one-game goal drought against Manchester United.
Receive a digest of our best Newcastle content each week direct to your mailbox
