CALLUM WILSON admits he is currently “not in the running” for a World Cup spot – but the Newcastle United striker is hoping his performances in the next three months will earn him a place on the plane to Qatar.

Wilson started the season in fine style at the weekend as his flicked finish from Joelinton’s cross sealed Newcastle’s 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest and opened his account for the campaign.

The 30-year-old has never played in a major tournament, and given that the most recent of his four senior international caps came in October 2019, he accepts he faces a major battle to force his way into Gareth Southgate’s World Cup squad.

However, with question marks over a number of England strikers – Dominic Calvert-Lewin is injured with Everton, Patrick Bamford and Ollie Watkins underperformed last season and Tammy Abraham failed to impress during this summer’s Nations League games – Wilson is determined to do all he can to put himself in the mix.

“I have to hit the ground running,” admitted Wilson, who has scored 21 league goals in 45 appearances since joining Newcastle from Bournemouth in 2020. “At the moment, I am probably not in the running (for a World Cup place), but it is something that is in my mind and I am focusing on when I set my targets and try to achieve them.

“It’s important to play well and score, and the team will help. We have a lot of good players in the squad who will support me, and I will them. My job is putting the ball in the net, focusing on the process and being consistent game by game. Then, we’ll see where we end up in 15 games.”

The Northern Echo:

Wilson’s injury record has been one of the major issues that has held him back in the past, and a combination of hamstring and Achilles issues meant he was sidelined for most of the second half of last season.

He had his own tailored pre-season programme which meant he sat out the occasional summer session, but he insists he is completely injury-free and hoping for a trouble-free campaign.

“Everyone has an opinion, but for me, it’s about keeping that noise quiet this season and putting that doubt to bed,” he added. “I have no doubts about my body, it’s just about putting it into action.

“Sometimes, I am my own worst enemy because I go out there at 70 or 80 per cent because I want to help the team. It doesn’t do me justice. So, I have had a good pre-season, very good physically, and I’m 100 per cent. Then more I’m on the pitch, the more I will score."


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