Jermain Defoe has hailed Newcastle United striker Callum Wilson and stated that the England World Cup hopeful is ‘underrated’ and someone who is like an ‘old number nine’.
The former Tottenham forward played and trained alongside Wilson during their days at Bournemouth, as Defoe added that the thriving Newcastle man ‘really impressed’ him.
On Sunday, Wilson showcased his composure in front of goal as Eddie Howe’s side recorded an impressive 2-1 win over Tottenham in north London.
It was the 30-year-old’s fourth goal in eight Premier League games, with a hamstring injury disrupting him just before the international break.
That time on the sidelines possibly cost him a place in the recent England squad, which is a crying shame because, every time an international break comes around, Wilson seems to be injured.
Despite that, Defoe made it clear that if it was up to him, then he should be going to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar next month, as he told The Final Word on Premier League Productions (24/10/22 at 11:15 pm).
“He’s the main man, the goalscorer,” said Defoe. “He is the focal point and I would say is like an old number nine. The ball comes up to him. It sticks. He brings people into play. He is willing to run in behind relentlessly throughout the game.
“When he gets chances in front of goal, he is cool and he has that belief that when he plays again, he always believes that he can score.
“100% (he’s underrated). He really impressed me, when I went to Bournemouth and even in training, I thought, he is a top centre-forward.
“It doesn’t surprise me because he is someone that works really hard. He had two really bad injuries and has worked really hard to get back like I saw. I am just delighted to see him do well. I believe if he’s fit, then he should go to the World Cup.”
WILSON DESERVES ENGLAND CHANCE
Gareth Southgate is allowed to take a larger squad than usual to the 2022 World Cup (26), so it does increase Wilson’s chances of earning that all-important plane ticket.
But, at Euro 2020, that was also the case with Southgate opting to take only one bonafide striker behind the main man, Harry Kane.
Back then, it was Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin, but he has been hit with injury after injury since and he isn’t in form, so it won’t be him.
It seems as though Wilson will be battling Roma forward Tammy Abraham and recently called up Brentford star Ivan Toney for that all-important spot behind Kane.
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