Eddie Howe responds as 48-goal striker makes Newcastle United contract claim

The 32-year-old made his first appearance of the 2024-25 campaign as a second-half substitute in the Magpies’ 2-0 defeat at home to West Ham United on Monday. Wilson had been sidelined since pre-season with a back and hamstring issue.

Now back fit after four months out, conversation has quickly turned to Wilson’s future with the striker out-out-contract in the summer.

Wilson is essentially playing for his future but when asked if his contract situation could provide him with extra motivation, Howe replied: “I think Callum has loads of incentives internally built within him. I wouldn't necessarily have to ask him about those. He is a very driven person and does regularly set himself goals.

“I'm sure his contract is on his mind but I think it will be in the back part of his brain because he will be focusing on the here and now and doesn't things that can affect his long term future for the positive.”

Wilson spoke to the media after the West Ham loss and insisted he wasn’t thinking about a new deal yet. Howe agreed it is important to shut out the noise.

“Well, I think as a modern day player now you have to [shut out the outside noise],” said Howe. “If you don't deal with outside noise and you let it affect you and let it creep into your thoughts, that could be a very dangerous thing.

“One of the challenges for any modern day player, any young player, coming through is the ability to ignore everything apart from obviously the information that you need from people that you respect and have got your best interests at heart. So I think that's a new thing that modern players are adjusting to because of the noise and social media and other avenues can be really loud.

“So if the players sort of took that information on and believed most of it, none of them would be able to kick a ball. So I think Callum's experienced enough to know that and is very single minded in his pursuit of what he wants and that's one of the biggest qualities he has.”