Critical for Callum Wilson | OneFootball

Newcastle United celebrated an enthralling and hard fought win over Birmingham City in the FA Cup on Saturday evening.

What was also a celebratory moment, seeing Callum Wilson make his first start of the season and capping this off with his first goal of the season.

Having only previously made four league appearances off the bench and one Carabao Cup sub appearance, it’s imperative for Wilson to now stay fit for the remainder of the campaign as Newcastle aim for a top four finish and silverware this season.

Although it may be difficult for Callum Wilson to watch Alexander Isak be Newcastle’s main front man and the team’s biggest goal threat, what Wilson can achieve is becoming an impact player that could contribute goals, also giving the opportunity to those in Newcastle’s starting front line a rest.

Still possessing the key attributes to be a vital asset over the next four months with his instinctive finishing and hold up play. A slightly more robust and old fashioned centre-forward, there is room for the current number nine in this side.

What should be an incentive for Callum Wilson is that his contract ends in June this year.

There are concerns from fans on his ability to stay fit and it would be very surprising if Newcastle United did not take this into consideration as part of their recruitment plans in the summer.

Centre-forwards are a rare commodity in this market and it’s also a rarity that those who occupy that role, will be happy to play the part of second choice behind an absolute first choice regular selection.

Gone are the days where you had two or three prolific strikers in your ranks with rotation accepted.

Newcastle United will reportedly be in a much healthier financial position come July, moving into a new financial year, with the high spending 2022/23 having dropped off the three year PSR cycle.

However, PSR will continue to be a major ongoing factor, as Newcastle United and the rest look to get best possible value from current players, in order to be able to have the financial/PSR flex to strengthen across the team and squad.

It could be that Callum Wilson does sign an extension but there will need to be evidence that he can improve his fitness levels and be reliable in front of goal.

If Newcastle United were to achieve European football this season, whether that be in the Champions League or whatever, relying on Alexander Isak and a makeshift Anthony Gordon will not be sufficient.

So keeping Callum Wilson or replacing him with an alternative versatile frontman will be a key decision that both Eddie Howe and Paul Mitchell will need to analyse and agree on.

If Wilson was to leave at the end of the season, there would be hope that he could depart on a high, with positive performances left in the mind of the supporters.