Callum Wilson makes big Newcastle United and Premier League relegation claim

Callum Wilson believes any Premier League relegation anxiety has been erased from Newcastle United’s squad.

The Magpies’ top scorer hasn’t kicked a ball since late December after picking up a serious calf injury in the 1-1 draw at home to Manchester United.

At that point, United were 19th in the top-flight table, however the result was actually the start of the club’s nine-game unbeaten run that stretched to Southampton in mid-March.

Wilson has spent time away from his teammates during his rehabilitation but linked up with Eddie Howe’s squad for last week’s trip to Dubai.

Indeed, the 30-year-old stepped up his recovery in the Middle East and there is optimism he will return before the 2021/22 campaign is over.

Now nine points above the drop zone, Howe’s men could realistically seal survival before Wilson returns to the fold.

It’s been quite the turnaround without their star striker, and Wilson insists there is a confidence among his teammates that they will see the job through.

Speaking on the BBC’s Footballer’s Football Podcast, Wilson said: “First and foremost, (our aim) is to remain in the Premier League statistically by the points but you also want to climb as high as you can because you’re judged on where you finish. That’s what we want to do.

“People write us off earlier in the season, saying we were favourites to get relegated.

“If you’re a player and listen to that, it can creep into the squad and you can start having negative thoughts and have doubts about yourself but we didn’t. The boys have cleared any anxiety of relegation and have got self-confidence now.

“You can see that in our performances game-by-game, it’s growing. We go behind in a game, we come back, we can win.

“We’re winning in different ways. Different people are scoring. It’s a sign of the team going in the right direction.”

Wilson also discussed the trip to Dubai, which was rounded-off on Friday with a 5-0 win over Steven Taylor’s Gulf United.

It was Newcastle’s second trip to the Middle East in less than three months after visiting Saudi Arabia in January - the catalyst to the major upturn in results.

Wilson added: “When you’re in a bad situation or on a bad run, they (trips away) are beneficial because it can bring a team together, galvanise you and make you want to work hard for each other.

“The situation we’re in at the moment, there is still so much to be done but it’s like a mini reward for how the boys have performed over the last 10-12 games.

“But also, it’s not a holiday. We are training out here. It’s a case of making sure we know as individuals, and as a squad, that there is still more work to be done this season.”