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Newcastle: World Cup disappointment expected for Callum Wilson
Newcastle United striker Callum Wilson is unlikely to be named in England’s 2022 World Cup squad, according to Sky Sports reporter Rob Dorsett.
The Lowdown: Wilson flying for Newcastle
The Magpies are in a rich vein of form this season, sitting third in the Premier League, and Wilson’s performances have been vital throughout the campaign.
The 30-year-old has scored six goals in 10 league starts and has been described as an ‘incredible‘ player by Newcastle manager Eddie Howe.
Gareth Southgate will name his World Cup squad on Thursday and Wilson will be hoping to get a call-up as a backup centre-forward option to Harry Kane.
The Latest: England call-up unlikely
Writing in a piece for Sky Sports, however, Dorsett admitted that the Newcastle striker’s chances of getting the nod for the final cut are slim, with Brentford’s Ivan Toney potentially preferred to him.
The reporter claimed that Wilson’s lengthy absence from international duty could count against him (he was last capped in October 2019), saying:
“Wilson is on a brilliant run for Newcastle, with three goals in as many appearances. But he has not played for England for more than three years and I would be surprised if Wilson got the nod ahead of others.
“The smart money is on Kane, Abraham and Rashford to make up the striking department. Southgate only had three strikers in his Euros squad, and with defensive frailties and injuries in other positions, I suspect he will want extra cover in those areas.”
The Verdict: Deserves to be in
This would be a bitter blow for Wilson, who has been so influential this season and may see this as his last opportunity to represent England at a World Cup given that he will be 34 when the next edition rolls around.
The Newcastle marksman’s experience could shine through in big moments if called off the substitutes’ bench, although it looks as though Marcus Rashford is ahead of him in the pecking order,
That should be debatable, considering that the 25-year-old has only scored four league goals in 13 games for Manchester United this season, two goals fewer than his Magpies counterpart in three more matches.
The hope is that Southgate ends up deciding to take Wilson, although from Howe’s point of view, his injury-prone attacker will at least enjoy a nice rest if he doesn’t go to Qatar.
