‘I don’t’: ‘Hugely physical’ Newcastle player says he never actually lifts weights in the gym

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Newcastle United striker Callum Wilson has revealed that he doesn’t bother lifting weights in the gym.

The 30-year-old discussed his Darsley Park preparations on the latest edition of The Footballer’s Football Podcast.

The Magpies forward revealed that, despite being labelled a ‘hugely physical’ player by Liverpool defender Nat Phillips, he doesn’t lift weights in the gym.

“I don’t even do upper body weights. I swear to God, I don’t touch a weight in the gym for my upper body because I put weight on so quick,” he said.

“Leg weights I have to do for football, but I won’t do pull ups, dumbbells, chest press because I just get so big.”

Callum Wilson surprisingly doesn’t use weights in the gym

Described by Phillips, as above, as a ‘hugely physical’ presence up front, this news will come as a major surprise to Magpies fans.

Previously hailed for his electric pace, the 30-year-old has slowed down slightly in recent years. As a result, he has become far more reliant on his strong physicality to overpower and tussle with defenders.

This is illustrated by his aerial stats, for which he averages 3.2 headers a game. Instead of fully focusing on getting in behind the opponent’s defence, the striker now gets into more individual battles to try and win the ball.

Saying this, Wilson is no slouch when he’s in on goal. Thus far this season, the former Bournemouth man has impressively bagged six goals in nine Premier League games. If he can avoid injuries for the remainder of the campaign, he could easily hit a 20+ scoring tally for the 2022/23 season.

Therefore, in fairness to Wilson, it doesn’t appear he needs to be hitting the weights, as he is clearly doing something right at Darsley Park.

His clinical form in the final third has been crucial to Eddie Howe’s side this term, so the forward should continue whatever he’s doing behind the scenes.