Callum Wilson in Newcastle squad for first time this season

Newcastle United have been boosted by the news that Callum Wilson has returned to their matchday squad for the first time this season.

The 32-year-old has yet to feature in 2024-25 due to back and hamstring injuries but Wilson has been named on the bench for Newcastle’s home clash with West Ham United tonight. He has not featured since the 4-2 victory over Brentford on the final day of last season, missing 14 straight games in all competitions.

Eddie Howe, Newcastle’s head coach, suggested that Wilson needed to prove his fitness in training over the weekend to be considered for selection, and he has passed those assessments.

Kieran Trippier is also back in the squad, having missed five games due to a hamstring injury, with his last appearance during the 0-0 draw at Everton on October 5.

Newcastle are ninth in the Premier League and can rise to sixth with a victory, which would be their third in a row in the top flight and fourth in succession in all competitions.

Having Wilson available again is a huge positive for Howe, given that he offers an alternative to Alexander Isak, the first-choice centre-forward. Newcastle have only scored 13 goals in 11 Premier League matches, with just five different scorers, the second-fewest in the top flight this season.

Newcastle United XI: Pope; Livramento, Schar, Kelly, Hall; Willock, Guimaraes, Longstaff; Gordon, Isak, Joelinton.

West Ham United XI: Fabianski; Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Emerson; Carlos Soler, Soucek ; Bowen, Paqueta, Summerville; Antonio.

(Stu Forster/Getty Images)

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Chris Waugh is a staff writer for The Athletic, covering North East football and most particularly Newcastle United. Before joining The Athletic he worked for MailOnline, and then reported on NUFC for The Chronicle, The Journal and The Sunday Sun. He has covered NUFC home and away since 2015. Follow Chris on Twitter @ChrisDHWaugh