CALL-UP WILSON? TOON ACE STILL HOPING
Dream of making England squad for Qatar is still alive – at least in the mind of Newcastle’s No.9
CALLUM WILSON has not given up hope of a late surge into England’s World Cup squad – despite missing out on a hatful.
As Fulham put the craven into Craven Cottage, mercurial winger Miguel Almiron’s wonder goal – a dipping volley straight from Dutch legend Marco van Basten’s back catalogue – gave legions of stranded Geordie pilgrims a moment to savour.
Don’t take me home, please don’t take me home? No problem – striking rail workers were happy to grant Toon foot soldiers their wish. And striker Wilson’s immediate impact, on his return from a six-week injury lay-off, should give Three Lions coach Gareth Southgate food for thought before he plucks his 26 names for Qatar from the tombola.
Southgate wasted his chance to look at Brentford’s Ivan Toney last month, and there aren’t many apples left on the tree.
It’s four years since Wilson, 30, scored on his England debut against the United States. It’s unlikely that Fulham skipper Tim Ream would look forward to a reunion at the Al Bayt Stadium on November 25.
By his own admission, Wilson should have bagged a hat-trick in west London, but he said: “I haven’t given up on the World Cup – not at all.
“I wasn’t available for selection for the last international break but, if I was fit, I think my performances would have needed to stay at the level they were earlier to get me in the squad.
“There are nine games coming up, an opportunity for me to do well in those nine games and I don’t see any reason why, behind Harry Kane, I can’t follow and be a second striker.
“It’s probably part of the reason I’m disappointed not to score more here – a striker is always judged on goals at the end of the season, but even more so when November comes round this year. “If I focus on Newcastle, and do my talking out there on the pitch, we’ll see where we end up – but I’ll give it my best shot and, if I fall short, at least I can say I gave it everything.
“You want to come to the boil at the right time and I knew there would be people watching me today, coming back from injury,
and it was important to get up and running straight away. That’s three goals in four games so far this season – my tally is OK, but I can get better and it’s something I can improve on.”
Wilson had already missed a sitter before Nathaniel Chalobah’s red card after just eight minutes condemned the Cottagers to a thankless shift.
He soon opened the scoring before Miggy Stardust, watching a Bruno Guimaraes pitching wedge drop over his shoulder, volleyed it Van Basten-style into the far top corner. Absolutely stunning.
Sean Longstaff and Almiron again, this time from close range, polished off Fulham, who were saved from a seven or eight-goal humiliation by offside flags and goalkeeper Bernd Leno’s resistance before Bobby Decordova-Reid’s token reply.
Wilson said: “It’s only the first day of the month and that’s probably going to win goal of the month – I
‘I don’t see any reason why I can’t be a second striker behind Harry Kane’
can’t see anyone producing a better one. I was a bit shocked myself, but in training his finishing is really good and it’s just a question of putting it into practice in actual games.
“Sometimes it comes down to confidence and belief, sometimes you just need one to go in and then the floodgates open.
“His two goals here were different, but he’s been a great player for us over the years and he’s still an important part of the team.”
For a team who had started the season so vibrantly, Fulham’s first-half display was wretched. Marco Silva’s men lost leading-scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic to injury and decided it was not going to be their day.
Some people give up chocolate for Lent, others give up booze for a New Year detox. Fulham just gave up.