Callum Wilson makes Aston Villa ‘time-wasting’ claim during Newcastle United win

Callum Wilson believes Newcastle United’s opener against Aston Villa came at an important time due to the visitors’ first-half ‘time-wasting’ It was Wilson who opened the scoring via the penalty spot as Eddie Howe’s side surged to a 4-0 victory.

Howe admitted after the game that his players found it difficult to find their rhythm because of the stop-start nature of the first interval. Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez twice needed lengthy treatment after taking a bang to the head, while Emiliano Buendia also went down injured.

As a result, eight minutes of stoppage time was added and Newcastle took full advantage when Wilson scored from the spot after Ashley Young blocked Miguel Almiron’s shot with his arm.

“That moment in the game, we needed a goal,” Wilson told the BBC Footballer’s Football Podcast. “It was important to break the deadlock because the time-wasting was incredible. It helped us really, making them come out of their holes and pockets and get them actually playing the game.”

The 30-year-old revealed how Robin Olsen replacing Martinez in the Villa net almost disrupted his penalty routine. He said: “I done all my research on Martinez being in goal and I knew I was going down the middle against him. The goalkeeper changed and I was like ‘now what?’

“But I thought don’t change where you’re going to go, just commit to it. 99 per-cent of the time goalies dive, so next time I’ll have to go in the corner or it might be done the middle again. You know, they might be listening!”

Callum Wilson’s World Cup hopes

Wilson netted a second just after half-time when he headed home a cleverly worked short corner routine involving Kieran Trippier and Miguel Almiron. In front of the on-watching England manager Gareth Southgate, the former Bournemouth striker certainly did his Qatar World Cup hopes no harm.

Statistically, Wilson is the Three Lions’ best striker behind Tottenham Hotspur star Harry Kane. Although Kane has scored five more goals in all competitions, Wilson holds the better goals-per-minute ratio.

Wilson said: “You’ve only got a few more games to showcase what you’re about before the squad’s announced so for me, it was another opportunity. I always back us at home, we’re a good side at home and I just thought ‘give it everything’.

“I had a few interviews during the week asking about internationals. I just thought ‘I’ve spoken enough, I need to do my talking on the pitch’. After the game, I got asked ‘did you know Southgate was here today?’ I was like ‘no, but I’m buzzing!’

“There was so much England talent out there, it would have been a good game to come to. I didn’t even think before the game that the England manager might be at the game. You’re out there playing doing what you need to do and you’re glad it’s been acknowledged.

“I’m just disappointed I didn’t get a hat-trick, that’s the only bad thing! The rebound when Joelinton scored, I should scored that and the header that crashed off the bar.”