NEWCASTLE: Eddie Howe has hailed the impact of Callum Wilson after the striker鈥檚 two goals ensured Newcastle United ended their season on a winning note.

The frontman鈥檚 Turf Moor double, either side of halftime, saw the Magpies cruise to a 2-1 win and end the Clarets鈥� stay in the Premier League. It also meant Howe鈥檚 United ended their season in 11th place, on 49 points, a stark contrast to the landscape that presented itself upon his appointment, with Newcastle on just five points from their opening 11 games.  

Wilson has been missing for much of United鈥檚 mid-season revival, having only started two games since December. But despite that, the England frontman still ended the season as the club鈥檚 top scorer on eight goals.

And Howe, despite earmarking a striker in the summer, knows how key a fit and firing Wilson will be for the Magpies next season.

鈥淲ilson is an outstanding striker, an outstanding goalscorer at this level,鈥� said Howe.
鈥淲e have missed him this season. That can鈥檛 be underestimated. What a big void that has been for us to fill, but I think Chris Wood has done a magnificent job for us.

鈥淲ilson鈥檚 return 鈥� for him to come back and play two 90 minutes for us 鈥� is an incredible achievement, and his two goals today will make his summer better.

鈥淗e has returned looking better than ever.鈥�

While Wilson finished his second 90 minutes in less than a week, it was a much shorter afternoon for Brazilian midfielder Joelinton.

A challenge midway through the opening period saw the player felled and a stretcher brought on.

Howe has explained that while the injury is not muscular or a break, and therefore not as serious as it could have been, it was a cut damaging enough to see the player sidelined.

鈥淚t didn鈥檛 look good. I could see by the way he went down, I thought 鈥榯his could be serious鈥�,鈥� said the head coach.

鈥淎pparently, it鈥檚 a deep laceration. I think the doctor, initially when he saw him, could see part of his bone, so I think it was quite deep.

鈥淲e knew immediately we had to withdraw him, but he鈥檚 in good spirits in the dressing room.

鈥淗e had a boot on and said he was OK, so that鈥檚 great news.鈥�

Reacting to the game itself, which saw his former club Burnley fail to beat the drop, Howe said: 鈥淚t was a tough game, a really difficult match for lots of different reasons. I don鈥檛 think it was necessarily one for the purest.

鈥淭echnically, I don鈥檛 think we were at our very best levels. But I think mentally we were and we had to be today because that was a very difficult finish to the game after Burnley scored, so full credit to my players for how they attacked the match and how we dealt with all the things surrounding the game.

鈥淭oday was a very, very difficult day for me as I do have emotional ties to Burnley through the supporters, players, club directors.

It is a very proud club. It hurts to see a club relegated; I have been in that position before.

鈥淏ig respect to them, I hope they bounce back quickly.鈥�

Meanwhile, after a shortened summer break, Arab News understands United will return to pre-season training for the 2022/23 Premier League season on July 1.