Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
DOG ON THE TYNE
Street striker Callum bought a ’Banksy’ to remind him of his urban roots and Newcastle boss Eddie admits he’s had a tough journey from the lower leagues but will prove his pedigree at the World Cup
IT HAS been a long journey from hoodie-wearing kid on the streets of Coventry to World Cup-bound England striker.
But Callum Wilson is ready to make an impact in Qatar should Gareth Southgate lose talisman Harry Kane for any reason.
He needed five years building his potential and reputation at Coventry – including non-league spells at Kettering and Tamworth.
There was a £3million transfer to link up with Eddie Howe eight years ago at Bournemouth which included a first promotion to the Premier League in a 20-goal season.
But amid the 61 strikes in 171 games on the south coast there was not one, but two, cruciate knee ligament injuries in 18 months.
There was also a goal for England on his debut in 2018 against the USA, one of four caps, and lately he has been making light of the burden of Newcastle’s No.9 shirt – scoring six goals in 10 games this season.
Howe guided Wilson at the Cherries, and to new heights on Tyneside and feels the joy of his call up. The Toon boss said: “It is an amazing thing for him individually.
“Callum has had a difficult career. His is not all about successes.
“He has risen from lower leagues to the World Cup and it has been brilliant to witness.”
How has it happened? “Dedication to his work and a positive mindset. He has a way of scoring, a uniqueness,” said Howe.
“Single-mindedness and an inner confidence has got him here.
“He believes in himself, not in an arrogant way, not in a negative way. It is all positive.” Wilson bought a
Banksy artwork, Choose Your Weapon, to remind him of the urban kid he was as a football- loving street kid of the early 2000s.
The heat of Qatar and expectations of a nation will hang heavy on some, but Howe insisted: “I would back Callum in any situation.
“If he entered the pitch he would be able to score the goals England need. That’s always been in his DNA, the goal-scoring ability.
“He is going to want to contribute for sure. He doesn’t want to go there just in name. Gareth must feel he has the ability to do that or he wouldn’t
have picked him. He can deliver. He has got everything and is at the peak of his powers.”
Howe knew he had a special player on his hands the moment Wilson arrived in Bournemouth.
He explained: “When I watched him play before he signed for us I saw a player with huge potential physically, one of the best players I had seen at that time.
“Explosively quick, unique running style, scored some really, really good goals.
“When we signed him you get that instant feeling that this guy is special, he has the character and confidence to be a centre-forward for a big club.
“He has just gone on and on, scoring goals and doing really well.”
The toughest moments were the injuries, but then the character shone through that Newcastle, and now England, will have in their camp.
“Every player has a setback or a disappointment – Callum’s have been his injuries,” said Howe.
“Every time he has suffered one there was no sign of him looking depressed or a negative emotion, it was just, ‘I will deal with this and come back better and score even more goals’. That is his personality and his outlook on life.
“I’ve seen the disappointing moments he’s had,
“I’ve seen him score hat-tricks in the Premier League and shared those moments with him.
“I also know how desperate he was to go to the World Cup, so it was nice to share that moment with him.”
Newcastle also have Kieran Trippier and Nick Pope in Southgate’s squad – the first time since 1998 they have had three players with England, and another indicator the club is again becoming a powerhouse. “It is great for us and we are proud of our international players,” said Howe.
“We want to be a place where players excel and thrive.”
Toon’s Miguel
Almiron (right) is one of those thriving after collecting the
Premier League player of the month award for October.