Writing in his column for Sky Sports, Paul Merson has been making the case for Callum Wilson to go to the World Cup.
The Newcastle striker is the topic of plenty of debate at the moment as we close in on Gareth Southgate naming his England squad for the Qatar World Cup.
Wilson is seemingly the ‘Will he? Won’t he?’ player of this tournament’s cycle for England, and many have been campaigning for the attacker to be involved in this winter’s tournament.
Merson has backed Wilson to go to Qatar, stating that he’s a player with the movement to play on the international stage, labelling that aspect of his game as ‘phenomenal’.
Merson hails Wilson
The pundit had nothing but good things to say about the striker.
“Wilson and Toney are straight down the middle, while Rashford can do a job on the left or right if needed in a three-man attack. That is why I think Rashford should get the nod, he can do jobs others cannot,” Merson said.
“I like Wilson and Toney, I’d be shocked if Wilson didn’t go to the World Cup. I’ve said it from day one, Wilson has international movement. He plays on the shoulder; his movement is phenomenal.
“If England are ever in trouble and need a goal, Gareth Southgate needs to look at his bench. Wilson gets goals in the six-yard box, there is an art to that, an art the other England forwards with the exception of Kane haven’t mastered.”
Can replace Kane
As Merson says, Wilson knows how to get goals in the box, and that’s why he should be in the squad.
Let’s be honest, England are going to start Harry Kane in every game at this tournament barring any injuries, but if he does go down with an injury, the Three Lions will need a like-for-like replacement.
Ivan Toney and Marcus Rashford aren’t quite in the same mould as Kane, but as Merson says, Wilson is that style of poacher who can sniff out chances in the way only top-class strikers can.
Wilson is the best alternative to Kane available to England at the moment.
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