Callum Wilson returns to St James’ Park for the first time since leaving Newcastle United.
Wilson scored 49 goals in 130 appearances for the Magpies before leaving at the end of his contract last summer.
The 34-year-old opted to leave after playing second fiddle to Alexander Isak but what he didn’t know then was the Swede would also depart as he joined Liverpool for a British record £130million.
The Gazette has launched a WhatsApp NUFC channel to bring the latest news, analysis and team & injury updates directly to your phone.Simply click this linkto join our NUFC WhatsApp channel.
Newcastle signed Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa for a combined £119million to replace Wilson and Isak but neither transfer has gone to plan.
Had Wilson stayed on Tyneside, then it’s likely he would have played more regularly. But Howe still believes it was the right time to let the striker go, although he admitted it was painful.
Wilson joined West Ham United on a free transfer and returns to St James’ Park for the first time this afternoon.
Eddie Howe has no regrets over Callum Wilson’s Newcastle United exit
Reflecting on Wilson’s exit, Howe said: “It was difficult for Callum as well. Callum wanted to be the focal point number nine; he wanted to play every game. He'd had a period where he was behind Alex [Isak] and not getting the minutes that he wanted.
“The psychology of Callum is — and this is why he's had so much success — that he is the best striker to play in any environment, and that's the credit to him and how he thinks.
“It was probably the right time for him to go. Although there's always pain in that, there's pain for us to let him go because he's such a positive member of the squad. The lads absolutely loved him, we loved him, worked with him a long time, trusted him.
“So a lot of pain in that departure — a lot of emotion from both sides. I just really respect him and I want his career, as long as he's playing, to be really successful. But of course, we've got a job to do against him this weekend.
“Whenever you're competing against each other, you'll do everything, and he'll be doing everything to hurt us and we'll be doing everything to stop him.”
Continue Reading