Liam Kennedy has been speaking on the latest edition of #NUFC Matters with Steve Wraith about all things relating to Newcastle United.
One of the topics that the Shields Gazette reporter spent some time on was Callum Wilson’s fitness.
The Toon striker is currently out injured with a hamstring injury and is expected to be out until at least the beginning of April.
A video emerged over the weekend of Wilson doing some light training, but Kennedy can’t see him returning until early April.
He said: (23:54) “It’s a slow process with these [kinds] of tear injuries whereby you’ve just got to take small steps just keep pushing that bit further, rest, push a bit further.
“It’s one if you do rush back from and there is still a slight issue with it, [especially for] somebody who relies upon pace and explosive pace at times like a Callum Wilson, then it’s likely to go again.
“So, it’s one of those that you can’t rush back [from].
“I would be very surprised if we see him back before April. Very, very surprised.”
Do you think Wilson will return before April?
No, we have to manage without him
Yes, he will come back
TIF Thoughts on Wilson’s injury…
It looks like the Toon are going to have to get through at least the month of March before they can have their top goalscorer back in the team.
Wilson was signed for £20m, and he has been brilliant for Newcastle as he has scored ten league goals and provided a further five assists.
However, they have probably relied on Wilson too much at times this season as out of their 26 league goals; he has had a direct role in 15 of them.
Not only is he the club’s leading goalscorer, but he has also provided the most assists, so he has proven to be the complete striker for Newcastle, and they have to find a way to win without him, or they could find themselves in deep relegation trouble.
However, they also can’t rush him back as that could cause more long-term problems, so it will be intriguing to see how the Toon manage this situation.