In Focus: In-form Wilson primed to earn England recall

Callum Wilson is spearheading Newcastle's charge towards Champions League qualification. 

The Magpies striker netted a brace in the 2-2 draw at Leeds before registering a goal and an assist in the 4-1 victory over Brighton last Thursday. 

Wilson, 31, has been a standout performer this season and is now dovetailing well with fellow frontman Alexander Isak. 

As Eddie Howe's men prepare to face relegation-threatened Leicester tonight, we shine the spotlight on the ex-Bournemouth ace who is set to earn an England recall in Wednesday's squad announcement.

Goals galore

Wilson is enjoying his most fruitful Premier League season to date after racking up 18 goals in 29 matches — with 15 of them coming from open play. 

The Coventry-born forward seems to have found another gear since Isak's arrival last summer and is being aided by quality service from the likes of Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton and Miguel Almiron. 

Wilson said: "This is the first season in a long time that I've played close to 30 games, playing with better players now.

"No disrespect to the players I've played with before — but if you add in more quality around me my numbers are going up. 

"It's an opportunity I've been waiting for throughout my career, to be in a team full of stars, full of fantastic people and players and I'm trying to give back."

Form of his career

Since the start of April, no player has scored more times in the English top flight than Wilson — and that includes Manchester City record-breaker Erling Haaland.

The Magpies ace has netted eight times in his last six appearances.

After the win over the Seagulls, Howe said: "The season he was in the Championship with us, my first season with him at Bournemouth, I thought he was electric. 

"But this is at the very highest level, this is against the best defenders in the world and the best teams in the world and he's performing at probably the best level I've ever seen him at."

Old school No9

Wilson is more of an old-fashioned striker in an era dominated by false nines. Of Newcastle players with 500 or more Premier League minutes under their belt this season, he has the fewest passes completed (156). 

The Magpies' No9 has also had only 532 touches of the ball, which is fewer than Isak (552) despite playing nine more games.

However, the Three Lions international has still been involved in link-up play.

Wilson sits on five league assists for the season, behind only Kieran Trippier (seven) and Joe Willock (six) in Howe's squad. 

Leicester's defence, which has shipped 41 goals in 18 away matches this term, will struggle to contain Newcastle's in-form marksman.

England hopes

Wilson's form is likely to see him named in Gareth Southgate's latest squad this week as he battles to be Harry Kane's understudy at Euro 2024. 

The prolific striker made two appearances at the 2022 World Cup but did not make the cut for the European Championship qualifiers against Italy and Ukraine in March.

Ivan Toney's eight-month ban for breaching betting rules should aid Wilson in his mission to become a regular at international level.

And if the Newcastle goal machine lights up the Champions League next season, Southgate will be unable to ignore him.