Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has revealed that Callum Wilson could be in contention to return ahead of their Carabao Cup semi-final showdown against Arsenal.
The Magpies return to action tonight in the Carabao Cup for their second-leg semi-final clash with Arsenal at St James’ Park and it is their most season-defining fixture so far.
With a two-goal lead from the first leg, Newcastle are in a great position to progress to the final at Wembley for the second time under Eddie Howe, where they will meet either Liverpool or Tottenham Hotspur in their hopes of winning the trophy.
There is a real opportunity for the Newcastle boss to lead his team to glory like no other manager has in almost 70 years on Tyneside, so although the quality is there, the magnitude of the occasion is not lost on the fans or the club itself.
Indeed, Newcastle’s form in recent weeks has not been at it’s strongest seen this season so far, however, there will be such a huge advantage for the team with the home support on their side this evening, making the stadium a cauldron for the travelling Gunners.
Despite Jamaal Lascelles and Harvey Barnes being ruled out of the fixture, Howe should have a strong selection of players to choose from this evening, though Joelinton is set to be a doubt to start in midfield.
The Brazilian has been spotted in a leg brace in the days after their defeat against Fulham where he was forced off the pitch, and the Newcastle boss revealed in the pre-match press conference yesterday that he would be a doubt for tonight.
However, there was some positive news to take from the manager’s communications with the media ahead of Arsenal as he hinted that striker Callum Wilson has a potential return on the horizon.
Wilson has not been seen in the squad since December, but Howe has shed light on his comeback:
“There is a chance, we have another training session to get through so we will see,”
“Let’s get through training before we make a decision.”
Will Callum Wilson feature against Arsenal?
Despite becoming one of the most unreliable players in the squad due to injury and fitness concerns this season, there is no doubt that Wilson can be a huge asset to Newcastle if he can get back to his best over the business end.
Alexander Isak has been run into the ground due to absences, and while William Osula has shown great confidence and spirit in the forward line, he has failed to make the impact of the likes of the England international in the past.
It is highly unlikely we will see the 32-year-old hitman feature against Arsenal this evening as the game may come to soon for him, however, there is a great opportunity against Birmingham City in the FA Cup at the weekend for him to stretch his legs.
With that being said, a fit Wilson is a threat worthy of minutes if he can get back to scoring and being an attacking influence on the pitch, which can only be a positive for Newcastle moving into the final months of the season.
