Former Manchester City and England defender Danny Mills has suggested that Newcastle United could struggle if Callum Wilson is out for a prolonged period following his injury scare against Southampton.
Wilson has been a pivotal part of the Magpies’ team so far this season since he arrived from Bournemouth in a £20m deal over the summer. However, the 28-year-old, who had been eyeing an England callup after his promising start to the campaign, was forced off the field against Southampton on Friday with a hamstring issue, per Football Insider.
After the defeat at St Mary’s, Steve Bruce confirmed he did not know how bad the damage was to Wilson and suggested that the striker would go for a scan to determine the extent of the damage, per Football Insider. Losing the 28-year-old would leave the Magpies short of options in attack, with Dwight Gayle also sidelined until at least next month.
Speaking to Football Insider, Mills suggested that losing Wilson for a prolonged period would be a major blow for the Magpies. He also heaped praise on the striker for the impact that he has had on the rest of the squad since his summer arrival from Bournemouth, saying::
“Wilson would be a huge miss because he has been fantastic this season.
“He has given them energy, enthusiasm and that has transcended to other players in the team. He has brought others on.
“When you see your centre-forward chasing lost causes, making intelligent runs – it is infectious. It is brilliant for the whole team so hopefully he injury is not too bad.
“Newcastle will be OK so long as he does not miss too many games.”
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Wilson has been the Magpies’ standout performer so far this season and his tally of six goals in eight matches marks him out as one of the division’s leading marksmen, despite playing for a team which has recorded the joint-fewest shots on goal so far this term (premierleague.com).
Newcastle’s next leading scorers are Jacob Murphy and Joelinton, who both have just two goals in all competitions. That should be a huge concern for Bruce’s side, who have become almost too reliant on Wilson’s predatory instincts in the final third to help them pick up points.
Mills is right in saying that, should Wilson return quickly, it should not be too detrimental to Newcastle; but were he to miss three or four weeks, that would put real pressure on the Magpies’ squad. It would also force Bruce to have a rethink about how to get goals from elsewhere this season.
