There is some disappointing injury news ahead of Newcastle United’s Premier League clash with Wolves.
The Magpies are not too far away from having their strongest squad available, and are set to be boosted by the return of Fabian Schar.
He is available for Sunday’s game, with his three-match suspension now over. It feels likely that Schar will immediately return to the Newcastle team, despite Emil Krafth doing so well in his absence.
Schar’s return is a major boost, but his layoff was enforced due to suspension rather than fitness. Newcastle United still have some players who are out of action due to injury, and one of those is Callum Wilson.
Newcastle without Callum Wilson due to injury
The 32-year-old has been unavailable since the beginning of the summer, with Wilson sustaining a back injury during pre-season.
He missed all of the Magpies’ friendlies, but the expectation was that Wilson would only miss Newcastle’s first few games.
Now four matches have passed without the £20million forward, and that number is only going to increase. It was previously reported that Wilson is a doubt for the Wolves game, and it remains unclear when he will be fit to return.
Eddie Howe shares Callum Wilson update
Despite being pictured in the club’s gym during the week, Eddie Howe has provided a disappointing update on Wilson’s fitness during his pre-match press conference ahead of facing Wolves on Sunday.
“He [Wilson] hasn’t had a setback but he’s a little bit behind where we wanted him to be,” he said, as reported by the Chronicle.
“We envisaged that he might be training at this moment in preparation for the game but he’s probably a little bit behind.”
Wilson news highlights the importance of Will Osula
With Wilson not as close to a return as Newcastle had hoped, Alexander Isak will continue to lead the line for the foreseeable future.
But while Wilson’s absence put Isak under pressure last season, it is a different situation now.
Newcastle United have another striker in their ranks, with Will Osula joining from Sheffield United during the summer transfer window.
He is providing cover Isak, and is there on standby if Howe decides he needs to make a change through the middle. Osula is yet to make his competitive Newcastle United debut, but is ready when the time comes.
Despite not playing, he is filling an important role. Newcastle need depth, and his presence means they have that up front.
However, Newcastle would have more depth in a perfect world, but that is not the case as Wilson continues his road to recovery.
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