'Can't question' - Newcastle United fans deliver Callum Wilson new contract verdict
NewcastleWorld asked Newcastle United fans if Callum Wilson should be offered a new contract.
Newcastle United must decide whether to extend Callum Wilson’s contract, with his current deal due to expire in the summer.
The 32-year-old’s future has come back into focus this week after he marked his first start of the 2024-25 campaign with a goal in Saturday’s 3-2 win at League One leaderers Birmingham City in the FA Cup fourth round.
Wilson had been restricted to just five substitute appearances this season, first missing the opening four months with a back and hamstring problem before suffering a setback at the beginning of December.
He made his return as a late substitution in the 2-0 Carabao Cup semi-final second-leg win against Arsenal a week ago before being named in the starting line-up for the visit to St Andrew’s.
Wilson’s strike against Birmingham was his 49th for the club. However, it isn’t his goalscoring ability that is up for debate, it is his durability with a number of injuries limiting him to 114 appearances in four-and-a-half years on Tyneside.
NewcastleWorld asked Newcastle United fans on our Facebook page whether Wilson should be offered a new deal - and here are some of the responses.
‘He’s done great for us but...’
Of the 180+ responses we received, the majority weighed in favour of no to a new contract, simply because of his injury record.
Phil Murray said: “Unfortunately his track record of injuries means we can ill afford to carry such players in the slim squad we have. Don’t get me wrong, he’s brill when fit, but can’t rely on him staying fit.”
“Top striker, top bloke but no,” said Gari Alongi. “Injuries have caused too many games out to be our second option. If he was 4th option yes maybe. Time to move on and appreciate him elsewhere.”
David Hall added: “He’s done great for us when he’s been fit but I think it’s time to let go now as the club moves forward!!”
Stephen Howe said: “No … can’t question him as a goalscorer at all but his injury record is appalling .. 6 years at the club and just made his FA cup debut on Saturday … at 32 it’s not going to improve now as the saying goes the best ability is availability.”
Pay as you play deal?
Some fans raised the possibility of a pay-as-you-play deal, although such a scenario is very, very unlikely.
As one fan, Richard Wearmouth, put it: “Wilson wouldn’t take a pay-as-you-play contract I’m sure he will leave for sunnier climates. Such a shame as he’s a really good forward.”
There’s no guarantee Wilson will be leaving for “sunnier climates” but there would almost certainly be another club willing to offer him a full-time contract. That offers far more security than pay-as-you-play.
‘A no-brainer’
But there are plenty of fans who see merit in keeping Wilson.
Stephen Corkey said: “Yes. No brainer. When fit, a better goals per games/minutes ratio than most strikers in Europe. Already knows Newcastle's system and team-mates' movements.
“We'll probably get a new striker anyway, or a striker/winger like Mbuemo, which will give Howe more options game to game and from the bench but we might as well benefit from the time Wilson has left in the game, rather than somebody else.”
Meanwhile, Pete Goldsmith floated the idea of reducing Wilson’s wages but increasing his appearance and goal bonus.
He said: “If he’d sign on for another two years for half the wages but double the appearance & goal bonuses, it would be a no-brainer.
“He’s a proven goalscorer at this level, a different type of striker to anything else we have in the squad, & he’s a leader. All those things are hugely important, & realistically who is going to come to us knowing they’re going to be an understudy, that would give us those things?
“[Jhon] Duran just left Villa because he wanted to play every week, & [Julian] Alvarez left Man City in the summer for the same reason. If he wants to stay & the financial package makes sense then it’s a no-brainer.”