Pundit hails ‘natural goalscorer’ Wilson as key for Newcastle survival after £50m report
Noel Whelan has insisted keeping Callum Wilson fit will be key to Newcastle United’s quest to remain in the Premier League this season.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, claimed the Tyneside club’s “real problems” will come in the defensive and midfield areas.
According to the Telegraph (October 16th), Newcastle will have just £50million to spend in January despite Financial Fair Play regulations allowing for a budget of almost £200m.
Wilson claimed his third goal of the season against Tottenham on Sunday with an emphatic header on his return from injury.
The England international scored 12 Premier League goals last term in his debut season at St James’ Park.
According to Transfermarkt, he missed 12 matches through injury in the 2020/21 campaign.
Whelan insisted attacking options should be low on Newcastle’s January priority list.
He claimed “natural goalscorer” Wilson will give them “half a chance” in the relegation dogfight.
“He’s a natural goalscorer, we saw that with the fantastic header he scored against Tottenham,” Whelan told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury.
“They have to keep him fit to have half a chance.
“Look, they’ve got Almiron, Saint-Maximin and Wilson upfront – that is not a bad front three.
“They need to spend more than £50million – but they could go down the route of loan-to-buy moves as well.
“The real problems will come at the back, but they could do with more in midfield.
“They were completely overrun by Tottenham and Ndombele in particular.“
The Magpies remain winless this season after falling to a 3-2 defeat at home to Tottenham on Sunday.
Newcastle have conceded the most goals of any Premier League club this season with 19.
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