Newcastle United fitness update as £20m star pictured ‘training separately’ ahead of AC Milan clash

Eddie Howe has confirmed Callum Wilson is available for Newcastle United’s Champions League clash against AC Milan this evening (kick-off 5:45pm).

The Magpies trained at their Benton base on Monday morning before flying to Italy later in the evening. Howe’s side arrived in Milan at a slightly later time after they were delayed due to the weather.

Prior to travelling, there were some concerns raised on social media as to whether or not Wilson would be involved versus Milan after he trained away from his teammates did some “light running” instead.

But as expected, Howe has revealed the England international is fine. Having previously suffered two ACL injuries under Howe at Bournemouth, Wilson’s workload is carefully managed.

Speaking to reporters at the San Siro, Howe said: “Callum is OK. He very rarely trains two days after a game, so it is normal preparation for him.”

Despite starting and scoring in Saturday evening’s 1-0 win over Brentford, a result that ended a run of three straight defeats, Wilson is expected to drop out of the starting XI in place of Alexander Isak.

Isak, a £63million signing from Real Sociedad last summer, had started all four Premier League matches before dropping to the bench for the visit of the Bees.

“He has really impressed in his time with us,” Howe said on Isak last night. “His initial injury he picked up was a blow for us but it probably allowed him, looking at a positive, to settle in and allowed him to watch a lot from the sidelines and pick up a lot of what we ask him to do. Then when he came back to fitness he was excellent for us at the back end of last season.

“[He] dovetailed brilliantly with Callum Wilson, played a number of different positions for us. He is just a super technician, a very intelligent footballer and has the ability to win you a game by producing something unexpected. He is a real talent.”