'Absolute need' - Newcastle United transfer 'priority' as 48-goal striker decision weighed up

Geordie Journos Liam Kennedy, Jordan Cronin and Dominic Scurr take you inside Newcastle United’s trip to Adidas HQ in Herzogenaurach, including Eddie Howe’s sitdown with journalists, and discuss Callum Wilson’s future following the striker’s latest injury blow.

You can watch the full episode on ShotsTV! on demand or on Freeview channel 276, every Monday at 10:30pm.

Callum Wilson’s future debated

Wilson is into the final year of his contract and missed Saturday’s 3-1 friendly win against German third-tier side SpVgg Unterhaching.

Newcastle head coach Howe explained: “Callum has just gone to see a back specialist just to have a little procedure on his back. It’s just something [Wilson] has been feeling a little bit so we’re just getting it checked out.”

When asked if Wilson would be available for the 2024-25 Premier League opener against Southampton on August 17, Howe responded: “Let’s see.”

For context, Wilson’s latest setback is the 14th of his Newcastle career. He has missed a staggering 95 games - including 37 per cent of the Magpies’ top-flight fixtures since his 2020 arrival, yet is the club’s second highest goalscorer in Premier League history.

Watch Geordie Journos on ShotsTV! Eddie Howe powerplay & Callum Wilson’s future

Discussing Wilson in the latest Geordie Journos episode, the conclusion was that Newcastle need to sign a striker this summer regardless of whether the 32-year-old stays at St James’ Park or not.

Jordan said: “It’s that big frustration that just seems to go on and on and on with Callum Wilson and the older he gets, will these injury problems ever go away? I don’t think they will.

“Regardless of Callum Wilson’s future it’s clear that whatever happens, Newcastle need to go out and sign a centre forward in this transfer window.

“What do you do with Wilson? If it was up to Eddie Howe, you’d keep him in and around the squad and play him as much as possible because Eddie Howe loves Callum Wilson and has made no secret of that. But he’s so unreliable which is the big frustration for me so that’s a priority [to sign a striker].”

Liam added: “Callum Wilson has been an outstanding striker for Newcastle United in my opinion but his reliability and his body has failed him which is a shame. It will be tinged with sadness the day he does leave.

“There is an absolute need to make sure they get somebody in because taking a load off Alexander Isak is the only way forward. Whether that be sidelining Callum Wilson with someone else in the squad or replacing him wholly is an absolute necessity.”

For more on Wilson and the latest Newcastle United news, watch the Geordie Journos every Monday at 10:30pm on Shots! Freeview channel 276 or catch up on demand over at shotstv.com. The latest episode is available to watch here.