Callum Wilson was ready and willing to play far more than his brief 15-minute cameo during Newcastle United’s clash against Crystal Palace on Saturday. His body language at halftime, as the players headed to the dressing room, hinted at a man eager to be unleashed, a striker itching to make his mark.
The drama began when Alexander Isak sustained an injury during the first half. Wilson, ever the consummate professional, immediately began warming up, preparing himself to take on the mantle of responsibility. Yet, to his visible frustration, the Newcastle number 9 was passed over in favor of Harvey Barnes. Anthony Gordon, not typically a central striker, was given the task of leading the line. It was a tactical decision that highlighted the patience Wilson has been forced to adopt in recent months as he inches closer to a career milestone: 100 Premier League goals.
Despite his readiness and hunger to contribute, Wilson’s opportunity didn’t come until the 76th minute. By then, Newcastle was under significant defensive pressure, and the game’s momentum made it challenging for any substitute to truly shine. In his brief time on the pitch, Wilson managed only eight touches, a frustratingly low figure for a striker of his caliber. This match marked his second appearance since returning from a grueling six-month layoff due to injury, and once again, he left the pitch with a sense of unfulfilled ambition.
Manager Eddie Howe shed light on the decision-making process after the game, acknowledging the difficulty of balancing Wilson’s desire to play with the need for caution. “It was a tough call for Callum,” Howe admitted. “He’s had very limited training time, and I have to tread carefully. The last thing we want is to push him too hard and risk another setback. Our plan was to give him 20 to 30 minutes, similar to what we did against West Ham.”
Even so, Howe’s approach was conservative. Wilson could have been introduced shortly after the hour mark but was instead made to wait. Explaining his tactical choice, Howe said: “I opted to put Anthony up front. He’s proven before that he can do a job for us in that position, and I thought he performed well again today. If there were a lack of chances, that wasn’t on Anthony—it was on the team as a whole. We need to be more cohesive in creating opportunities.”
As Newcastle looks ahead to a midweek clash against Liverpool, the big question remains: Will Wilson be deemed ready to start if Isak’s hip injury sidelines him? While Wilson’s proven goal-scoring pedigree makes him an obvious candidate, Howe has other options, including deploying Gordon in a central role once again. For Wilson, it’s another waiting game, but his determination to reach peak form and hit that 100-goal milestone burns as brightly as ever.
This phase of Wilson’s career is a delicate dance between ambition and caution, hunger and patience. Newcastle’s talisman knows the importance of biding his time, but his frustration at being sidelined is palpable—a testament to his unyielding desire to contribute. Only time will tell if Liverpool’s defense will be the next to witness the resurgence of one of the Premier League’s most consistent go
al scorers.
