Newcastle United provide Callum Wilson update ahead of Arsenal amid Leeds United fitness claim

Newcastle United will assess Callum Wilson’s fitness ahead of Tuesday night’s clash at Premier League leaders Arsenal (kick-off 7:45pm).

The Magpies No.9 is working his way back to full fitness after suffering from illness. It caused Wilson to miss a week’s training and the 3-0 win at Leicester City on Boxing Day.

He returned to the matchday squad for the goalless draw against Leeds United, and was introduced as a 64th-minute substitute for Chris Wood.

Wood was the man selected ahead of the 30-year-old for the third successive Premier League game after head coach Eddie Howe deemed Wilson not fit enough to start versus Leeds.

“No, it wasn’t a difficult decision,” Howe said when asked about the decision to start Wood over Wilson. “Callum only trained yesterday for the first time in about seven or eight days. I didn’t consider him fit enough to start the game.”

Wilson could, however, start at the Emirates Stadium tomorrow night as United play their second game in just three days. Howe, though, gave nothing away when asked about potential rotation.

Howe said: “We’ll make a decision based on how the lads feel, the look at the squad in terms of injuries and look at Arsenal and pick a team we feel will give them the best game.

“I’m not going to sit here and say we’ll make changes or I’m going to make changes, it’ll be done purely on an individual basis.”