Callum Wilson has praised his new Newcastle United teammate Chris Wood – but admits he’ll probably be ‘kicking himself’ after four games without a goal.
The Magpies signed Wood during the January transfer window, forced to act following the injury to Wilson. The number nine limped off during the 1-1 draw with Manchester United in December, and hasn’t featured since.
There are fears his season is all but over.
That puts real pressure on Wood to deliver. He’s already under pressure after his £25million arrival – a lot of eyebrows were raised over the fee.
The New Zealand international has started the last four games for Newcastle, but is yet to score his first goal for the club.
He did find the net against Everton, but it was rightly ruled out for offside.
Despite a lack of goals, Wood’s performances have generally been good. He’s led the line well and defended from the front.
Callum Wilson believes Chris Wood has ‘done a great job’
On the latest episode of the Footballer’s Football Podcast, Wilson and Michail Antonio discussed the Magpies’ Kiwi forward.
“I think he’s probably kicking himself that he’s not scored yet, but you know what it’s like,” Wilson said.
“One will drop for you and he’ll hit the ground running. For the way that the team’s been functioning, the way the team’s been playing, the formation that we’ve set out over the last few weeks has been working. That’s been with one striker. Credit to him, he’s done a great job.
“When I get back, it’s not going to be easy just to walk back in.”
Goals will come for Wood
It’s surely only a matter of time before Wood nets his first Toon goal. And, as Wilson says, he just needs one to ‘hit the ground running’.
That’s the way Wood’s Premier League career has gone. He’s often had lengthy goal droughts, then one goal kicks off a stellar run. At the end of the day, this is a player who’s hit double figures in the last four Premier League campaigns.
Newcastle signed a great Wilson replacement when they brought Wood in. And they also signed a player who could play alongside Wilson.
That won’t happen for a while though. For now, the main focus is on Premier League survival, and Wood will know his goals can deliver just that.
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