Eddie Howe confronted for not bringing on Callum Wilson as a replacement for injured Alexander Isak
Eddie Howe, the manager of Newcastle United, recently praised Callum Wilson but raised eyebrows with his decision not to bring him on as a substitute for the injured Alexander Isak. Isak was forced off the field in the 22nd minute during Newcastle’s match against Crystal Palace, after suffering two falls in the first half.
Fans were expecting Wilson to replace Isak in the line-up, especially after Howe’s comments about him in the pre-match press conference. Howe spoke highly of the 32-year-old striker, who recently made his return to action in a 2-0 defeat against West Ham. He emphasized Wilson’s resilience and described him as a significant presence both on and off the pitch.
However, instead of bringing Wilson on, Howe decided to manage his game time and substituted Isak with Harvey Barnes. This caused a positional change, with Anthony Gordon moving to the center and Barnes featuring on the right flank.
Howe’s decision perplexed talkSPORT host Adrian Durham and reporter Olly Clink. Durham expressed his confusion, considering that Wilson was on the bench for a reason and should be eager to get on the pitch. Clink referred to Howe’s previous comments about Wilson’s hard work to come back from injuries, which could explain the decision to be cautious with his playing time.
Durham remarked that Wilson’s match fitness might not be at its peak due to his recent return. However, he pointed out the potential impact of Wilson’s absence on Newcastle’s goal-scoring capabilities, as no other player has scored more than Isak’s four Premier League goals this season.
Newcastle fans will hope that Isak’s injury is not severe, as they face Liverpool on Wednesday at St James Park. Meanwhile, the decision to keep Wilson on the bench has left many supporters perplexed.
Ultimately, Newcastle will hope for a positive outcome despite the absence of Wilson, and their victory against Crystal Palace has demonstrated their ability to adapt and overcome challenges.
