Callum Wilson set to miss start of season with back injury.
Newcastle United striker Callum Wilson is set to miss the start of the 2024-25 Premier League season with a back injury, according to Chris Waugh of The Athletic.
Wilson’s injury could also have an impact on Newcastle’s transfer plans, as the Magpies were thinking about adding a new forward… but only if they could complete the sale of Callum. With his fitness questionable and this injury in place, it’s going to be hard to sell him for any sizable amount of money, let alone the fact that he’s entering the final season under contract giving even more leverage to the potential suitors to offer even less money.
The severity of Wilson’s injury remains uncertain, per Waugh, but Eddie Howe already said Wilson “has gone to see a back specialist just to have a little procedure on his back.” Not the best of news…
Newcastle opens the Premier League campaign against Southampton on August 17 and there are not really many other options available to slide into the striker position with Alexander Isak the only other semi-natural pure striker in the roster.
Lloyd Kelly and Joe Willock also missed training at the pre-season camp in Germany but they don’t carry real concerns regarding their availability come kick-off time in the new EPL season.
Kelly is considered to be fit although the club is approaching his training as sort of a ramping-up mini-preseason. Willock is still recovering from hamstring and Achilles issues from last season.
“Lloyd is fine. Joe Willock is fine, he’s working back,” Howe said.
Additionally, Matt Targett did not travel to Germany as he continues to recover from an Achilles injury. Tino Livramento is also still dealing with ankle issues, and Lewis Miley is sidelined until the end of September with a foot injury.
“We do have a hangover of injuries from last year. Tino Livramento is still working his way back, Lloyd Kelly we’re just being protective over but he’s fit and fine. Matt Targett (is back at home). Joe Willock and the others, they are still working their way back to fitness and they haven’t started with the group from pre-season. Lewis Miley got injured — not with us but while doing some off-season work.”
Newcastle’s first friendly of the summer is scheduled for July 27 when they’ll face Hull City away from home with the kickoff scheduled for 2 p.m. local time.
