Callum Wilson: Newcastle 'in touching distance' of securing top four after win at Everton

Callum Wilson has said Newcastle United are now within "touching distance" of securing a place in the Premier League top four and guaranteeing Champions League football next season after the comfortable win at struggling Everton on Thursday night.

Wilson opened the scoring at Goodison Park in the first half and grabbed his second shortly after Joelinton had doubled Newcastle's lead in the 72nd minute. Dwight McNeil pulled one back for Everton but a minute later, Jacob Murphy struck to seal an emphatic 4-1 victory.

The win moves Newcastle on to 62 points, eight clear of fifth-placed Tottenham who have played one game more. Manchester United, in fifth, trail the Magpies by two points but have played one game fewer.

Should Newcastle, who have won six and lost once in their past seven games including a 6-1 thrashing of Tottenham, maintain their good form they will return to the Champions League next season for the first time in 20 years.

"It's getting closer," Wilson, 31, said. "It's in our hands, we don't have many games left and we're still picking up points while teams around us drop points, so it's down to us how much we want it. It's in touching distance now and a few more wins should get us closer to it."

Wilson's double at Goodison took the England striker's Premier League goals tally to 13 for the season, some way off leading scorer Erling Haaland's 33 but two ahead of Newcastle teammate Alexander Isak's 11 in the battle to be the club's leading marksman.

"Any striker wants to score goals and wants to be at the top of the charts, whether that's for the club or in the league," Wilson said. "Playing in the No 9 role, it's inevitable that you want to score goals and be the top scorer.

"It's something you can focus on.