MY SHEAR DELIGHT
Wilson won over by Toon legend’s texts
CALLUM WILSON revealed how Newcastle legend Alan Shearer convinced him to make his £ 20m move to Tyneside.
England striker Wilson completed his switch from relegated Bournemouth – and he will be joined by former team- mate Ryan Fraser at St James’ Park – to lead the Toon attack under boss Steve Bruce.
Newcastle hero Shearer, the club’s all- time leading scorer, first contacted Wilson in 2018 when the hitman received the first of four Three Lions caps.
The pair kept in touch and Wilson, 28, revealed how Shearer supported his fellow forward through two serious knee injuries and ultimately helped him decide to join the Magpies.
“It was really encouraging to hear it from such a legend,” said Wilson, who is set to make his debut at West Ham on Saturday.
“The text message was out of the blue, so I was quite surprised, but I was so appreciative.
“Shearer messaged me when I got a call- up to England and we’ve also been in touch about coming here.
“I asked a few questions, ‘ What’s it like around the town?’ and things like that. He was nothing but in praise of the club and the place.
“It was already in my mind that I was coming here but that just nailed it on.”
Wilson is relishing the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of Shearer, who scored 206 goals in a decade with the Toon. Having rejected Aston Villa’s advances in preference of a move to the North East, Wilson said his mind was made up as soon as he knew Newcastle wanted him.
“From the minute I knew they were interested, it was definitely something that appealed to me,” he added. “It’s a massive club with great history.
“Along the years they’ve had great strikers. If I can emulate half of what they’ve done, I’d like to attempt that.”
With £ 40m record signing Joelinton having managed just two league goals in his debut season, Newcastle were in need of a prolific scorer.
And Bruce will be hoping Wilson can carry on his goalscoring exploits for Bournemouth at Newcastle.
“Callum is somebody I’ve admired for a long time and I’m delighted to get him,” he said.
“He’s done fantastically well at Bournemouth and was deservedly playing centre- forward for England less than two years ago.”
Bruce, who hopes to land Norwich defender Jamal Lewis next, was equally excited at the free transfer capture of in- demand Scotland winger Fraser, 26, on a five- year deal.
He said: “We held off big competition to get his signature and that says a lot about what this club has to offer.
“He has wonderful chemistry on the pitch with Callum, which excites me, and I hope it excites our supporters ahead of the new season.”
Village idiot why are you so obssessd with wham. Every sad text from you sees you mention them. All wham fans in this column send in sensible text but you are realy thick skinned cause even cfc fans slag you off. baggies baggies.
Looks like the parties over for van gerwen. He’s dominated for such a long time it looks like he can’t put up a fight any more at least it opens up the field for more competition now.
Cannot wait for the real fixtures to be realsed today for non league ie real football. The Fleet will set sail from the National League South, plundering six points off the Stones along the way and head straight back to NL before finally docking in the Football League. The Fleet are back and we are stronger than ever, you better believe it.