Kevin Campbell explains why Eddie Howe can’t ‘trust’ Wilson

Callum Wilson joined Newcastle United on a five-year deal from Bournemouth in 2020 and has finished both seasons at St James’ Park as the Magpies’ top Premier League goalscorer – 12 goals from 25 games in 2020/21 and 8 goals from 18 games in 2021/22.

But with Wilson missing 32 of Newcastle’s 76 league outings in two years, Kevin Campbell doesn’t believe Eddie Howe can ‘trust’ him over an entire season. The 52-year-old believes the Magpies manager will sign another striker who can stay fit.

He told Football Insider: “I think Newcastle are looking at someone at the top end of the pitch who is young and they can trust. Callum Wilson is a very good player (and) an England international, but he’s suffered injury after injury. It’s very difficult when you haven’t got your main man at the top end of the pitch.”

When Wilson was unavailable last season, Howe had Chris Wood, Joelinton and Dwight Gayle to choose from. Allan Saint-Maximin operated in the makeshift role on occasion too.

But with Wood scoring two goals in 17 appearances, Gayle spending most of the season on the bench or out the matchday squad and Joelinton failing to score more than four league goals in a season since joining Newcastle, it’s easy to see why Howe wants a new centre-forward.

Newcastle want to finish in a strong top-half position next season, potentially bagging a Europa League place, so they’ll need a prolific striker that can steer clear of injuries.

In other news, Newcastle tipped to spend ‘massive fee’ on Chris Wood’s replacement