Newcastle United’s bid to get their Premier League season has been handed a devastating blow as Callum Wilson could be out for six weeks, according to The Athletic.
The Magpies’ new number nine was only expected to be doubtful for Saturday’s 4-1 defeat to Manchester United,, but further prognosis has shown that he may have to sit out until after the October international break.
This means Wilson would miss three crucial top-flight fixtures against Leeds United, Watford and Wolves - all massive games for a side that are still searching for their first win of the campaign.
Bruce insisted Toon had enough cover in Wilson's position
An injury-hit debut season saw the former Bournemouth man make just 26 league appearances but he still managed to bag 12 goals, a respectable tally in a team that was plunged into a relegation battle.
Newcastle won just twice - against Fulham and Sheffield United in the final two fixtures - without Wilson in the starting eleven last year, and he has already bagged two goals so far in 21/22.
In July, while speaking to BBC Radio Newcastle, head coach Steve Bruce was adamant that the club had sufficient cover upfront if his main striker was forced to spend more time on the treatment table.
He said: “We’ve got Allan [Saint-Maximin], Joe [Joelinton], [Miguel] Almiron. We’ve got Dwight [Gayle]. We’ve got five. How many do you have in a squad of 22 outfield players?”
No backup brought in despite Gayle being the only fit recognised striker
Only Dwight Gayle is seen as an out-and-out striker on that list and he is yet to play a single minute so far this season, with question marks over whether the 30-year-old is cut out for the Premier League.
Andy Carroll’s departure was welcomed by many on Tyneside but failing to replace him means that Newcastle look light up front and lacking options to turn to from the bench.
Bruce is expected to face the media on Thursday ahead of a crunch clash with fellow strugglers Leeds United at St James’ Park; comments like these could come back to haunt him if he points towards injuries as being Newcastle’s downfall in the coming weeks.
Most Toon fans were crying out for a backup striker to be signed in the summer due to Wilson’s patchy injury record, yet owner Mike Ashley - and Bruce, too, it seems - were happy to take a gamble that looks as though it has drastically backfired.