If it wasn’t for Callum Wilson, Newcastle would be even further down the table.
The striker was brought in last summer from Bournemouth for £20million, tasked with scoring the goals that were needed to survive.
He got off to a perfect start, getting a poacher’s goal in a 2-0 win against West Ham.
In total he’s scored 10 times in the Premier League, as well as providing five assists.
He’s the only Newcastle player to hit double figures this season, and has scored twice as many as the club’s second top scorers. Both Miguel Almiron and Joelinton have scored five times in all competitions to sit behind Wilson in the scoring charts.
Wilson’s goals have been crucial. He’s a proper goal scorer who can lead the line. Even in games where we have been defending for our lives, he’s been able to hold it up and get us up the pitch.
He’s been a wonderful signing. However, the 29-year-old is disappointed with how things have gone so far.
10-goal Wilson isn’t happy
“I’m still on 10 goals, obviously disappointed with that because I would have liked to have achieved a lot more by now,” Wilson told the club’s official website.
“But I have to take what’s given to me in terms of the games I’ve played and the injury that set me back and just try and get as many as I can between now and the end of the season.”
Wilson’s attitude is exactly what you want to see from a striker.
Whilst hitting double figures in a team that spent most the season camped in their own half is a great achievement, Wilson wants more.
Injury has hindered his first season with Newcastle.
He picked up a hamstring problem against Southampton, amid a run of form where we actually tried to be more attacking.
We’ve improved offensively in recent weeks, which will hopefully allow Wilson to add to his tally before the season ends.
But while Wilson might be disappointed with only scoring 10 times, those goals have been key in the fight to avoid relegation.
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