Callum Wilson perfectly sums up Newcastle United takeover in just five words

The sleeping giant had been awoken. St James’ Park was buzzing again. Big River by Jimmy Nail was blaring over the PA system. The Wor Flags banner in the Gallowgate End read: ‘Cause this is a mighty town, built upon a solid. Everything they tried so hard to kill, we will rebuild’.

If you hadn’t guessed it by now, we’re talking about Newcastle United v Tottenham Hotspur. Sunday, October 17, 2021 - the first game since the takeover, and 10 days since the end of Mike Ashley’s 14-year tenure. Memories of his reign still remained, the Sports Direct signage, Steve Bruce and another defeat. But it was a day of celebration, and just two minutes, the stadium was in dreamland.

It was Callum Wilson who scored the first goal of the new era that day as he latched onto Javier Manquillo’s cross to the front post. Of course, it ended in a 3-2 loss for United. Bruce was sacked and, after a three-game interim spell for Graeme Jones, Eddie Howe arrived as the club’s new coach.

The rest, as they say, is history. Exactly twelve months on, Newcastle have gone from 19th in the Premier League to 7th (currently) and have the likes of Kieran Trippier, Bruno Guimaraes, Sven Botman and Alexander Isak and four other new additions in their squad for a combined £210million.

Callum Wilson on takeover: A ‘dark cloud has been lifted’

In Wilson’s own words, a “dark cloud has been lifted”.

“Well, it’s gone quick,” Wilson said. “It feels like yesterday when the takeover was happening. It’s been a transition definitely.

“We’ve started to see better players coming in the door, more money being spent on players, better competition and I think it’s important, it’s healthy.

“The feel around the place has changed over the last year, it feels like the dark cloud has been lifted over the football club and I’ve always said this club was a sleeping giant and it feels like it’s starting to wake now so it’s a positive and we’re going in the right direction.

“The mindset has changed, definitely, because you know the club have invested in the squad.

“You look around and there are such talented players, you’re confident with your team, with your starting line-up, with your subs that are coming on.

“There’s competition now and everyone is on their toes and everyone is playing that extra 10, 15-per-cent more whereas before you could be thinking ‘I’ll start every week’ and get complacent because it’s just human nature to kind of relax, but that’s not the case now.

“The manager has come in, the culture has changed, the philosophy has changed and yeah, I can only see positive things coming from this.

Callum Wilson lauds Eddie Howe impact

Howe’s impact at Newcastle United has been incredible, better than anyone could have imagined.

United have collected 49 points in 2022 - a total bettered only by Manchester City, Liverpool, Spurs and Arsenal, and face Brentford this Saturday, coincidentally the club Howe’s first game was against.

Again, in Wilson’s own words, the ‘perfect man for the job’. The 30-year-old is best placed to comment after previously working under him at Bournemouth for six years.

“I had full faith in him coming here and making an impact,” Wilson added. “I’ve worked with him previously for six, seven years and I know his work ethic is second to none and that filters down through the football club.

“When the takeover happened, he was the perfect man for the job because you could go foreign and all of a sudden you’re not getting the best out of your current English players because we did have a strong English core to start with.

“This manager has handled it, taken to it like a duck to water and now we’re seeing the results and I don’t think anyone is better suited for the job.”

The Newcastle United rebuild, both from owners and Howe, is in full flow.