'Absolute pleasure' - Newcastle United star announces podcast departure after two years

Newcastle United striker Callum Wilson has stepped away from his BBC Footballers' Football Podcast duties after just over two years.

Wilson and West Ham United attacker Michail Antonio started the BBC Sounds podcast in December 2021 and have recorded over 80 episodes together with their unique behind the scenes insight and somewhat witty behaviour enjoyed and listened to by many.

However, The Magpies' No.9 has decided to pass the baton onto Fulham midfielder Tom Cairney. In his final episode, Wilson told Antonio and host Rickie Haywood-Williams: "It has been an absolute pleasure and an honour to share this microphone and laptop with you for so long.

"The podcast has been great. It's brought new direction and showed a new side to me that people might not have seen previously. But sometimes you need to move on to bigger and better things... I'm only joking guys! It's been a pleasure and I'll miss yous.

"The highlights for this podcast, we started it off together just us and the producers and then we took it to the next level by getting Ricky in... debatable if he had a positive impact on it or not! Just getting to know yous - it's been nice to be associated with each other."

Wilson then joked: "I'm not leaving on a bad note... I'm just bored now."

Cairney recorded his first episode last week and said: "Thank you guys, I know I've got big shoes to fill but I'll try my very best!" Antonio jokingly replied: "To be honest, I kind of delighted to speak to somebody else. Callum got a bit stale at the end. Obviously I'm going to miss the guy, he was quality. You've got big boots to fill!"