‘Callum’s given us a cutting edge - he’s a top goalscorer’
Steve Bruce hailed Callum Wilson after the striker fired Newcastle United into the top half of the Premier League.
Two goals from Wilson gave Bruce’s side a 2-1 win over Everton at St James’s Park yesterday.
The strikes took Willson’s goal tally for the season so far to six – with half of them having come from the penalty spot – and Newcastle ended the weekend 10th in the Premier League with 11 points from seven games.
“I was pleased, overall, against a really good side,” said head coach Bruce.
“Ta c t i c a l l y, e s p e c i a l l y against an Everton team with (Carlo) Ancelotti in charge, the players got it spot on.
"They defended really, really well, and had a threat the other way too.
“For me, we deserved the victory against a really good
Everton team who started really well and were top of the league.
"We’ve got to be very, very pleased.”
Wilson opened the scoring with a 56th-minute penalty, and added a second goal in the 84th minute from close range, after a run forward from substitute Ryan Fraser.
The summer signing, taken off late in the game, had wanted to stay on.
“I think the difference is in the second goal,” said Bruce.
“I th i n k th at’s h i s s e c - ond or maybe third goal he’s scored inside the six-yard box.
"He’s there. I think that’s the difference, the instinct. He wants to score a goal.
“He got upset that I took him off with five minutes to go.
"He’s crucial to us. He’s given us that cutting edge which a goalscorer has.
"To h av e s i x a l r e a d y matches, I think, our top scorer last year. You can imagine what kind of lift he’s given to everybody.”
Bruce had recalled Sean Longstaff to his starting XI.
"Fair play to him – he's played the way we know he can,” said Bruce.
The result followed a 1-1 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend.
Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti said: “Newcastle are a good team. They played the same as they did against Wolves, with the same style, the same identity, defensively strong, and tried to do a counter-attack.”