Gareth Southgate has given a worrying update on the availability of Newcastle United striker Callum Wilson after his England call-up yesterday.
Newcastle are enduring something of an injury crisis at the moment and are keen to keep as many players fit as possible.
Following the announcement of the team, Southgate has shown some concern over the availability of the Toon striker.
Wilson was believed to have picked up a knock against Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday, but Southgate’s inclusion of the £20m signing gave Newcastle fans hope that it was not as bad as initially feared.
Southgate makes worrying suggestion about Newcastle star
Wilson has always struggled with injuries throughout his career but had been having a great stretch of games going back to the start of last season.
The addition of Alexander Isak has massively helped his game in that it has both spurred him on to try and be Howe’s starting striker as well as allowed him to be rotated and get enough rest in a busy season.
With Isak’s injury, however, Wilson has been playing a lot more regularly than Howe would have liked and it looks as though the amount of games has finally caught up to him.
Speaking on the former Bournemouth man’s fitness, Southgate said: “I couldn’t be certain that everybody who’s in that squad will be there on Sunday. Varying levels of doubt. I would say Callum Wilson is the biggest doubt. I’m pretty confident the others can get through & they are keen to be in the squad.”
With the news that James Maddison has just pulled out of the Three Lions squad, Wilson will surely follow suit if his injury is as bad as the Tottenham midfielder’s.
That has to be worrying news for Newcastle, as Howe’s side are already suffering with multiple players on the treatment table.
Wilson deserves to be in England’s Euro 2024 squad
Harry Kane is obviously the first name on the team sheet for Gareth Southgate, but that backup striker role is still up for grabs. The likes of Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney, when he returns, will all be vying for that spot alongside Wilson.
Newcastle’s number nine earned that role for the World Cup in 2022, a childhood dream of his, and will be confident that he can keep his place for the next tournament given how lethal he has been in front of goal since last summer.
The forward has already netted seven times in this Premier League campaign after a recording a personal best of 18 last season.
But it is not just the amount of goals that should impress Southgate. The 31-year-old is currently averaging 1.3 goals per90, the most of any player in the Premier League this season.
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