Sky Sports News (1.15PM) confirmed on Thursday that Newcastle United striker Callum Wilson will be included in Gareth Southgate’s England squad – and Roy Hodgson has given his verdict, with Ivan Toney likely to miss out.
The race between the likes of Wilson, Toney and other England strikers like Dom Calvert-Lewin and Ollie Watkins will be decided come 2pm – when Southgate picks his squad. But Sky Sports News report Wilson is in the 26-man squad.
Wilson, 30, has been excellent this season. While he has not been able to rid himself of his injury issues, picking up a hamstring injury that kept him sidelined for five league games earlier this season – he has still scored six goals in 10.
Having only earned four England caps, the ex-Bournemouth striker is not experienced on the international stage. His last cap came in October 2019. But it looks as if Wilson is in, and ex-England boss Hodgson gave his verdict.
“It would have been a hard choice. I know Callum’s background well, he has had to come through enormous hard-ships to get where he is today. Not least, from many injuries,” Hodgson told Sky Sports News, on Thursday.
” I do think it is a case which of the two players suit him best [Wilson & Toney]. He might be tempted more so, by Wilson having more Premier League experience – whereas, Toney has come on to the scene more recently.”
Newcastle striker Wilson in Southgate’s England squad: Hodgson reacts
What an achievement for Wilson – but it is probably the right one. His competitors are of course, Brentford’s Toney. But Toney – albeit called-up in the last England squad – is yet to win a cap. Calvert-Lewin has been regularly injured.
It might not even amount to much, with Harry Kane the undisputed first-choice striker. But Wilson will be delighted to have been picked and he will be desperate to show, probably from the bench, what he can offer for England in Qatar.
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