Callum Wilson is a doubt for the start of the season after the Newcastle United number nine suffered a back injury.
This was always going to be an important summer for Wilson, who has entered the final year of his contract at Newcastle, regardless of whether the striker stays at the club or ultimately moves on. WIlson certainly wanted to hit the ground running and the 32-year-old under went his own specialist movement programme several weeks before the start of pre-season to return in the best possible condition.
Wilson went on to travel out with the squad to the club’s training camp at Adidas’ headquarters in Germany and the former England international was out on the grass on Monday and Tuesday. However, Wilson has since gone to see a specialist and have what Eddie Howe called a ‘little procedure’ on his back.
“It’s just something he’s been feeling a little bit so we’re just getting it checked out,” the Newcastle boss told reporters a month before the season opener against Southampton. “Could he miss the start of the season? Let’s see.”
Wilson has played in just 63% of Newcastle’s top-flight fixtures since joining from Bournemouth in 2020, but only Alan Shearer has scored more Premier League goals for the club despite his injury issues. That is why the cost involved in finding a replacement who could provide a similar output in front of goal is a real dilemma for Newcastle, particularly when the black-and-whites already need to be smart to strengthen multiple positions this summer.
