CALLUM WILSON’S contractual situation will be discussed this summer, with Newcastle United’s previous refusal to hand new deals to anyone over the age of 30 having been overturned by the new regime.

Wilson will enter the final year of his current contract in June, with Eddie Howe admitting it is not ideal to have anyone within the first-team group who is uncertain or concerned about their future.

Had Mike Ashley still be in charge at St James’ Park, there would have been no chance of Wilson being handed a new deal given that he will be 32 by the time his current arrangement reaches its end.

Things are different under Amanda Staveley’s Saudi Arabia-backed ownership group, although Howe accepts that a player’s age must remain an important consideration when the possibility of a new long-term deal is being discussed.

When asked whether there is a value to retaining players who are in their 30s, the Newcastle head coach said: “I think it all depends on the individual player. There are some players that add value to your group into their 30s. Even if they’re not playing, they add value and those players are so important.

“But if those players aren’t adding value then it’s a different conversation. We’ll have those conversations internally and we need to get those decisions right.”

In respect of Wilson, those talks will take place this summer, with Howe keen to avoid a scenario where the England international heads into the final year of his deal with his longer-term future uncertain.

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He said: “I think the simple answer is that we’ll view every player individually. Obviously, it’s difficult for me to discuss any one player, but we’ll view every decision individually and try to make the best call.

“Certainly, with your key players and core players, you don’t really want doubts on contracts and contract lengths because I don’t necessarily think that’s a good thing. Then, of course, age and profile has to be looked at in great depth and we have to try to get those decisions right.”