Former Liverpool stopper and current TalkSPORT pundit Chris Kirkland has revealed why he’s been pleasantly “surprised” by Callum Wilson’s form following a £20m move to St James’ Park.
He believes he has suddenly looked a “different animal” in a black and white shirt, believing he looks like a different player to the one who failed to fire Bournemouth to safety last season.
Although his stint on the South Coast was generally a successful, he managed just eight goals in 35 Premier League appearances for the Cherries across 2019/20 – a tally he’s just two strikes away from already this season after six goals in his opening seven games!
Speaking to the Football Fancast, here’s what Kirkland’s had to say:
“They needed somebody up top,”
“Wilson, he’s surprised me, because I saw him a few times for Bournemouth but he looks like a different animal now.
“Now he’s there, he looks like a different player. Superb.
“For £20m as well, that’s nothing these days, for a number nine, for a striker, who’s going to score you 10-15 goals.
“An absolute bargain.”
Wilson may turn 29 next year, making him an atypical signing under the Mike Ashley era, but Kirkland is right in saying that his £20m arrival over the summer looks a real bargain.
Take away his goals and we’d be in a real mess, making it absolutely imperative that he can stay fit this season.
Thankfully, the hamstring injury picked up in last Friday’s defeat to Southampton appears to be minor, with it reported yesterday that he has an outside chance of making our upcoming game with Chelsea a week on Saturday.
With our other options up top so unreliable for one reason or another, it’s never been more important to keep our talisman off the treatment table.
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