Eddie Howe isn't ruling out Newcastle United deal for 49-goal striker
Callum Wilson’s contract at Newcastle United expires at the end of the current campaign.
Eddie Howe isn’t ruling out the prospect of Callum Wilson earning a new contract at Newcastle United.
Wilson has endured an injury-hit 12 months at Newcastle, with his Premier League start away to Liverpool on Wednesday night his first of the 2024-25 campaign and only his third since this time last year.
A pectoral muscle injury meant Wilson barely featured in the second half of last season before a back and hamstring problem forced him to miss the opening four months of the current campaign.
The 33-year-old returned in November but after four substitute appearances suffered a setback. That ruled the striker out for another two months.
Wilson has been fit and available for the last month, starting and scoring in the 3-2 FA Cup fourth win against Birmingham City before coming in for the injured Alexander Isak at Anfield in midweek.
“It's not easy for any player when they've had injury problems to come into the team, but I wouldn't say he's necessarily been thrown in,” Howe told reporters ahead of Sunday’s game at home to Brighton & Hove Albion.
“He's been back training for a good time and then he's been training with us and doing everything that all the other players have been doing for again a good period of time, so I think he was ready to start.
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“He obviously played against Birmingham in the FA Cup and did well and scored, and I think on another day Callum might have been able to score and impact that way in the Liverpool game - he obviously had a good chance.
“But he made some really good runs, he looked physically good, testament again to his hard work that he's put in in his recovery, and knowing him, he's mentally there, he's mentally ready to play."
Callum Wilson’s contract expires at the end of the season
Should Isak miss out against Brighton - he’s a doubt due to a thigh issue, then Wilson is expected to lead the line once again. And for the nine-capped England international, it’s a chance to begin staking a claim for a new contract.
Wilson’s current deal is understood to expire this summer, and Howe isn’t ruling out an extension.
“I've always said I've never written Callum off in my head in terms of what he can bring to the team. He is a goalscorer, he's strong, quick, physical, he understands everything tactically.
“The biggest thing is just getting some momentum in his game so he can play enough minutes to rediscover his rhythm. That's what he needs. Which is difficult to do when Alex is fit.
“It's difficult for us to get players fit in the team. They have to get fit and then execute their skills. It's a delicate balance but Callum has every motivation to do well and I'd back him to do so.”
Since joining Newcastle from AFC Bournemouth for £20million in 2020, Wilson has scored 49 goals in 117 appearances.