Steve Bruce explains why ‘outstanding’ player signed for Newcastle

Add as preferred source on Google

Not a lot went well during the Steve Bruce era at Newcastle United.

While Rafa Benitez was able to provide some joy even with Mike Ashley in charge of the club, Bruce’s time at Newcastle was thoroughly miserable.

Clearly, those days are now gone and the club have entered a new realm both in terms of ambition and investment.

Still, even despite the money PIF have spent, part of the sterling work Eddie Howe has done in charge of the team has been working with players he inherited from Bruce.

Sean Longstaff, Joelinton, Fabian Schar and Miguel Almiron have all seen their careers transformed.

Then there’s Callum Wilson.

Steve Bruce explains why Callum Wilson rejected Aston Villa for Newcastle

Indeed, the forward has certainly played a key role under Howe but he’s perhaps the one player who consistently performed under Bruce too.

A £20m signing from Bournemouth in 2020, it’s not worth thinking about where the club would have been prior to the takeover were it not for Wilson’s goals.

Top scorer even despite injuries during the 2020/21 season, Wilson’s contribution cannot be forgotten even if Alexander Isak looks to have overtaken him as the starting striker.

Aston Villa were also interested in the player as he left Bournemouth following relegation but Bruce has now shared exactly why the England international opted to move to St James’ Park.

“The reason why he wanted to come to Newcastle [was] he wanted the No.9,” Bruce told Simon Jordan’s Up Front Podcast.

“He wanted to be the goalscorer.”

Bruce and Ashley deserve credit for signing Wilson at the very least

Paying £20m for a striker approaching 30 at the time and with a troublesome injury record was certainly a gamble, particularly for a man in Ashley who hardly invested at the most risk-free of times.

Wilson, clearly, has paid that back. And then some.

Now equal with Les Ferdinand in terms of Premier League goals for the club, Wilson has written himself into the record books.

Bruce and Ashley don’t deserve a lot of praise but the Wilson deal is still proving worth it now. Having recently signed a new contract, the “outstanding” marksman has a lot more to give.