CALLUM Wilson has vowed to be "back soon" from the hamstring injury that forced the Newcastle United striker to withdraw from the England squad ahead of the double header in the next week for Gareth Southgate's side.

Wilson was forced off at half-time of Newcastle's Champions League defeat in Dortmund last week, with head coach Eddie Howe revealing over the weekend that the striker faces "a number of weeks" on the sidelines.

That forced Wilson to reluctantly pull out of the England squad having been recalled by Southgate for Friday's game against Malta at Wembley and next Monday's trip to North Macedonia.

He has now been replaced by Chelsea's Cole Palmer, with Newcastle's Anthony Gordon again overlooked despite James Maddison also pulling out of the squad as well as Lewis Dunk. Southgate instead turned to Rico Lewis and Ezri Konsa to replace the withdrawals.

While Howe recently told of how he was "sure" Gordon would be on Southgate's radar on the back of his fine form for the Magpies, Newcastle's head coach will welcome the opportunity for his forward to rest up during the international break, particularly with United missing so many key players due to injury.

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With Wilson and Alexander Isak missing Saturday's defeat to Bournemouth, Gordon started up-front, as he did at Manchester United in the Carabao Cup victory. Howe previously told of his hope that Isak would be fit to return for the visit of Chelsea in a fortnight's time but that game looks almost certain to come too soon for Wilson.

The striker took to social media on Monday and posted: "Unfortunately, a recent setback has meant I had to withdraw from the England squad that I’d worked so hard to be a part of.

"Strong walls shake but never collapse, so for sure I’ll be back soon. Good luck to the lads in the upcoming fixtures."

England are already assured of a spot in next summer's European Championships ahead of the qualifiers in the next week.

All three of the squad newcomers have progressed through the England youth ranks, with versatile Manchester City 18-year-old Lewis having earned four caps at Under-21 level, while 26-year-old Aston Villa defender Konsa won the 2018 Toulon Tournament just a year after lifting the Under-20 World Cup.

Chelsea forward Palmer, 21, who scored a stoppage-time equaliser from the penalty spot in Sunday’s thrilling 4-4 Premier League draw with Manchester City, was part of the squad that won the Under-21 European Championship this summer.