Callum Wilson doesn’t miss (as much as you think…) | OneFootball

I repeatedly hear from NUFC fans in connection with this next transfer window that it is apparently ‘essential’ that a new striker is signed.

This is normally uttered alongside disparaging comments about Callum Wilson and his ‘growing inability to be available for many matches.’

I hate to be awkward but does any of this make any sense? Is Callum Wilson really rarely available?

I have touched on this in the past BUT I think worth going into now.

After I heard various laughable (to me) Callum Wilson comments after the Sheffield United match and we are now only three weeks away from the season’s end, when all focus will switch to the upcoming transfer window.

If I asked you to guess how many of Newcastle United’s last 73 Premier League matches Callum Wilson has played in (not just named in the matchday squad for), going back to May 2022, what would you guess?

How about 40% of them? Maybe 50%? What about pushing 60%?

Callum Wilson has actually played in 51 of Newcastle’s last 73 Premier League matches, 73% of them.

Indeed, until that totally freak incident in the Forest away match when the defender caused a pectoral injury, Callum Wilson had played in 49 of Newcastle’s last 63 Premier League matches, 78% of them.

Are those really the stats of a player who is ‘mostly’ injured?

There is no doubt that Callum Wilson during his career has missed plenty of matches and indeed has had some serious injuries. However, I think the last couple of years Eddie Howe has managed the striker really well. Signing Alexander Isak has meant Callum Wilson doesn’t have to start every match (when available!) and this has helped to keep Wilson fit and available most of the time.

I think as well, the fact that Alexander Isak is first choice striker now and so Callum Wilson is invariably named on the bench, has helped lead to this perception, wrong in my opinion, that he (Wilson) isn’t available very often. His lack of minutes is more due to the presence of Isak than injuries!

More importantly of course is what Callum Wilson actually does when he is on the pitch. Those last 73 Premier League matches, in the 51 games where Wilson has got on the pitch, he has scored a goal on average every 107 Premier League minutes. A superb record, 27 goals in those last 51 PL appearances.

I actually think that Newcastle United are really well served for strikers and they do have strength in depth, certainly in comparison to most other Premier League clubs.

As well as Isak and Wilson, Anthony Gordon has looked good playing through the middle when asked to do so this season. Whilst Joelinton can obviously do a job there as well, even though we all agree that midfield is better for him ideally. The problem this season has been the sheer number of missing players, so when the odd time Gordon or Joelinton have played up front in games, the players who would then fill in, in their usual positions, have been thin on the ground as well.

I can’t believe the number of Newcastle fans who would be happy to see Eddie Howe get rid of Callum Wilson and replace him with some mythical Championship striker, or random forward from abroad.

Reality for me is that Newcastle are very lucky to have Callum Wilson as second choice striker and as detailed above, he is NOT usually injured. Certainly not these past two years when we have had Alexander Isak at the club as well.

The thing is as well, if there ever is a young exciting Championship striker or random overseas striker showing promise, then it isn’t exactly going to be a secret and Newcastle United able to pick him up on the cheap.

EVERY Premier League club is looking for this type of player and it would be a serious transfer fee is such a striker was up for grabs, the exact opposite to a cheap bargain.

Plus of course, if you find a young striker with such promise, would they be happy on the bench?

Callum Wilson seems happy with the situation, that it works for him and the club, at this stage of his career AND managing his fitness situation. At times he would no doubt prefer more time on the pitch BUT on balance I think he is ok with it.