Newcastle United: Chris Waugh provides injury update on Callum Wilson

The Athletic’s Newcastle United correspondent Chris Waugh has recently offered an injury update on English striker Callum Wilson.

So far this season, the 28-year-old frontman has made eight appearances in the top flight for the Toon, in which he has scored six goals and bagged one assist (per WhoScored).

However, in the second half of Newcastle’s recent 2-0 defeat at the hands of Southampton, Wilson was removed from the action and replaced by Andy Carroll (per BBC).

It appeared as though the Englishman damaged his hamstring in the clash against the Saints and the Toon were ‘worried’ about the extent of the issue (per Northern Echo).

During the latest episode of The Athletic’s Pod On The Tyne podcast, Waugh offered a positive update on the injury which Wilson had suffered, giving a hint to his further availability following the upcoming international break.

He said: “A little bit of positivity before we go into the negativity that is just Newcastle United in general, but Callum Wilson obviously limped off against Southampton, had a bit of a hamstring problem.

“There were initial fears that this could be several weeks he’s out for. There was even a report suggesting that it could be until the end of the year.

“My understanding is that initial scans, at least, have been more positive. It’s seen as a grade one hamstring strain, is the early suggestion, which is basically the lightest strain you can have.

“It’s a matter of weeks rather than months, and there is even an outside chance he could be available for Chelsea. Now, I’d say that that’s being very optimistic, but they haven’t ruled that out yet.

“He’s got to be assessed properly by Newcastle’s medical staff now he’s had the scan results back and they’re going to decide the timeframe going forward.”

TIF Thoughts on what Chris Waugh said about Callum Wilson’s injury…

As can be seen in what the journalist had to say, it would appear the injury to Wilson is not as bad as first feared and he could even be back in action against Chelsea following the international break.

Over his eight outings in the Premier League this season, Wilson has earned a respectable 6.93/10 average rating, which has made him the Toon’s third-best player (per WhoScored).

So, it seems likely that there will be some relief that one of Newcastle’s most in-form players does not look like he will be facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Indeed, Newcastle fans expressed their relief when The Telegraph reporter Luke Edwards claimed Wilson may not be out for as long as first feared – so Waugh’s claim that he could yet be involved for the Toon’s next game against Chelsea is surely a further boost amid any fears over the striker’s fitness.