Callum Wilson made his debut for West Ham on Saturday in his first game away from Newcastle United in almost five years.
It is admittedly strange seeing a player who was so loyal to the Magpies wearing the shirt of a different team, but it has finally sunk in that Callum Wilson is not a Newcastle United player anymore.
The 33-year-old left the Magpies after five seasons on Tyneside, having scored 49 goals in 130 appearances. Wilson was announced as a West Ham player a few weeks after his Newcastle departure, though he did not receive the best reaction on social media.
West Ham fans were furious when Wilson was announced, with many believing that he did not have the quality to remain in the Premier League. Wilson was ‘excited’ with his West Ham move, hopeful that he could still get the chance to play in a starting XI at a top club, having lost his place at Newcastle.
However, Wilson had a debut he would rather forget against newly-promoted Sunderland, Newcastle’s bitter rivals.
Callum Wilson looks on during a Premier League game between Sunderland and West Ham United.
Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images
Callum Wilson endures a rough debut for West Ham United
Eddie Howe wanted to keep Wilson at Newcastle, with the 47-year-old still a big fan of the England international. However, Wilson does not want to sit on the bench for the remainder of his career, so the move away made perfect sense to him.
Wilson has taken the No.9 shirt at West Ham, succeeding good friend Michael Antonio, who was released by the Hammers earlier this summer. The pressure was always going to be on Wilson in his debut, especially when playing against Sunderland, but he failed to deliver.
The former Newcastle man was subbed on in the 71st minute to a chorus of boos from the Sunderland support, who were already a goal up at the time. Graham Potter hoped that Wilson could get West Ham back into the game, but the complete opposite happened.
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West Ham went on to concede twice before the final whistle, with Wilson losing his man for Sunderland’s second goal before a third was added in stoppage time. Wilson had just one effort on goal in his cameo, an effort from distance which was wide of the mark.
Callum Wilson’s statistics in nightmare West Ham United debut
Wilson was sent good luck messages from Newcastle players following his move to the Hammers. He will be hoping that his next appearance will offer up much more than his debut did.
The Englishman is in contention to feature again when West Ham take on Chelsea in the Premier League next Friday.
Aside from his one effort on goal, Wilson was barely able to get involved in the game, not even attempting a single pass. Newcastle needed a striker as they drew with Aston Villa on Saturday, but it appears even Wilson may not have been able to contribute, given how he played on debut for West Ham.
Statistics vs Sunderland Callum Wilson
Minutes played 20
Passes completed 0/0
Shots 1
xG 0.02
Total duels won 1/4 (25%)
It may not have been his fault; however, West Ham looked shaky as a whole at the Stadium of Light, so Wilson was seemingly set up for failure the minute he stepped onto the pitch.
If he can recapture his form from previous seasons, Wilson can be a top player for the Hammers, but a lot of work must be done before he can be deemed a success.