Eddie Howe sat down with the press pack for his pre-match press conference on Friday morning and answered the usual questions in the lead up to the West Ham game on Monday night.
Understandably, there was a focus on the much-hypothesised return to fitness of Callum Wilson with various questions about the player and his contract situation fired at the gaffer. In response, Eddie had this to say:
“Is there a scenario where Callum could stay beyond his current deal? Of course there is. Callum’s got outstanding qualities. I know everyone in football has short memories, but you look at what Callum has done since I’ve been here – when he’s been on the pitch, he’s been incredible.
“That Champions League season, the way he and Alex [Isak] dovetailed together, to help each other and help the team to produce some brilliant performances and results was brilliant to see. Now, for a long period of time, we’ve lost that ability to play them together or to help them share the load. That’s been a real frustration of mine, and I know for the players themselves too.”
“My wish for Callum is just that he gets back consistently fit. If he does that, then there’s no doubting his qualities. Beyond that, the future will take care of itself. I don’t necessarily get too bogged down or worried about that [the contract], it’s more about just helping Callum in the short term.”
Whilst I largely agree with everything Eddie says here, surely there is an expectation that Wilson will not be retained beyond his current contract, he just can’t state it publicly, right?
The season United finished 4th, Wilson was great, [but still missed 9 games via injury] but if the club go 12-18 months seeing an ageing player who just can’t stay fit, any conversation about how good he is when he is fit becomes tedious, if it hasn’t already…
Of course, Eddie must keep Wilson motivated in the short term too, but he must be ruthless when decision time comes, because it is coming, gathering pace quickly just over the horizon and Wilson is a talking point within the fanbase in which sentiment is starting to turn against his obvious injury proneness.
Wilson, remember, was originally supposed to be returning from a back injury after the first international break of the season which started the week commencing the 2nd September. The injury then morphed into another hamstring/calf issue/’feeling a twinge’ which ruled him out yet again.
Since signing for the club Wilson has missed 599 days via injury and with this in mind, the caution surrounding the management of Wilson’s fitness is understandable and James Bunce, the Elite Performance Director appointed in the summer, more than likely has something to do with this.
Add-in the huge amount of (warranted) criticism the medical team took last season when dealing with injuries to star players – Botman especially, (whoever thought he could ‘rest up’ an ACL injury should frankly be struck off) the appointment of Bunce and the caution we are seeing with long-term absentees will hopefully be worthwhile in the long run.
Yet, when it comes to Callum Wilson specifically, his injury proneness, and the conversation surrounding it; I can’t help but think of that often misattributed to Einstein quote about the definition of insanity…
Wilson is a decent centre forward but not outstanding when fit and there’s the problem.
I could be the best artist in the world but if I am not painting what good would I be.
Eddie Howe’s big weakness as a manager is not seeing the bigger picture and being too loyal to some players.
Joseph(Quote)
He’s not going to say “Basically we’re protecting him so we can flog the lad in the January window” is he 😂
Matt Scott(Quote)
The bew-ti-ful irony of a poster who regularly shows they can’t see beyond their own nose suggesting Eddie Howe can’t see the big picture 🤣🤣🤣
GetReal(Quote)
If he is fit he is dangerous…specially with counter attack play…he is intelligent and it’s a question off keeping him fit..if we manage to do that he is prolific..look at his statistics it’s crazy
Henock nufc(Quote)
It’s about the club not an individual player. Successful clubs can’t and shouldn’t carry “sicknotes”. Get real.
George Bainbridge(Quote)