Newcastle United star earns England recall after stunning run of form

Newcastle United star Callum Wilson has been recalled to the England squad for their Euro 2024 qualifying double header against Malta and North Macedonia just days after receiving the backing of Magpies manager Eddie Howe.

The former Bournemouth striker has been in stunning form in recent months after plundering his way to 11 goals in as many games to help fire United into the Champions League for the first time in 20 years. His form has also taken him to within touching distance of the 20-goal mark for the first time since he joined the Magpies in the summer of 2020 and will achieve that feat if he can score twice in his side’s season-ending visit to Chelsea on Sunday.

Speaking ahead of Monday night’s home draw with Leicester City, United manager Howe praised Wilson’s form and stated the striker is at ‘the best level’ he had seen him reach after the duo worked together at Bournemouth earlier in their respective careers.

He said: “He’ll probably tell me there’s been a better spell somewhere down the line, I imagine. The season he was in the Championship with us, my first season with him at Bournemouth, I thought he was electric. But this is at the very highest level, this is against the best defenders in the world, the best teams in the world and he’s performing at probably, I’d say, the best level I’ve ever seen him at.”

Wilson will be joined in the England ranks by Magpies defender Kieran Trippier, who continues to form a key part of Gareth Southgate’s squad - but there was no place for goalkeeper Nick Pope after he underwent surgery on a hand injury that will keep him out of Sunday’s game at Stamford Bridge.

Wilson and Trippier could add to their haul of England caps when the Three Lions visit Malta on Friday 16 June before hosting North Macedonia at Old Trafford three days later. Fellow Magpie Anthony Gordon has been named in the England Under-21 squad that will undergo a three-day training camp before travelling to Romania and Georgia for the Euro U21 Finals later in June.

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