Wilson: ‘I’ll be back hungrier and fitter’

CALLUM Wilson has vowed to come back ‘hungrier and fitter than ever’ as the Newcastle United striker prepares to see a specialist about his calf injury today.

Wilson had to eventually come off with the injury after pulling up just before half-time in the Magpies’ 1-1 draw against Manchester United last month.

The Newcastle number nine revealed he suffered the tear after pushing off in the wrong direction while doing a movement he does in training ‘a thousand times a week’.

Wilson will see a specialist to analyse his latest scan and the 29-year-old is not sure how long he is going to be sidelined for just yet after trying to see if he could play on.

“Even it was something that was going to probably keep me out a little longer than a few weeks, maybe months, it’s something that I was always going to go back on,” he told the Footballer’s Football podcast. “That’s just the kind of player I am, the kind of person I am - never giving up.

“You do have an inkling whether it’s a bad one or it’s a little niggle and I think this one is probably middle of the road. I find out next week how long that’s going to be and, then, rebuild and go again.

“You can’t get too down in the dumps and you can’t get too high with the highs and this is just another little bump in the road that you’ve got to get over, pick yourself up and go again, really.”

Newcastle have won just two Premier League games without Wilson since the club’s top scorer completed his £20m move to St James’ Park back in the summer of 2020.

It is easy to see why the Magpies are keen to bring in another goalscorer in January, but Wilson has promised he will come back even stronger as the former England international prepares to turn 30 next month.

“Age is nothing but a number,” he added. “For me, it’s all about how you feel in the mind. Thirty is not ideal - I ain’t going to lie, especially when you’re currently sitting out with an injury.

“People write you off, but I actually enjoy that. I enjoy the fact that people are going to be like, ‘It’s 30.

“You’re on the decline now’. If anything, I’m in my prime. I’m coming into my prime as well.

“The games I’ve missed and I will miss for this season now, I’m coming back hungrier and fitter than ever so I think turning 30 within that is going to be one hungry Callum Wilson coming back to the Premier League and that’s all I can say.”