Eddie Howe has saluted Callum Wilson’s “brilliant mentality” as he waits to see whether his latest battle to return from adversity will be rewarded with a World Cup call-up.
The 30-year-old striker is back in the Newcastle team and among the goals after a six-week lay-off with a hamstring injury, which came at the worst possible time as England boss Gareth Southgate assessed his options.
Wilson has previously fought his way back from two cruciate ligament ruptures and Magpies head coach Howe, who gave him his chance at Bournemouth, is convinced his fortitude and positivity would serve his country well in Qatar if he made it into Southgate’s 26-man squad on Thursday.
He said: “Any player has those moments, those disappointments. I don’t think you will get to Callum’s stage of his career without injuries or moments of adversity. “But the key thing is how you respond to that and every time he has been faced with a difficult situation, he comes back stronger and better for it.