Eddie Howe believes that Callum Wilson can’t do much more to win back a place in the England squad this summer.
Wilson went to the World Cup in Qatar, but was left out of Gareth Southgate’s squad for the spring European qualifiers against Italy and Ukraine. But he has since blasted in eight goals in April to put himself firmly back on the radar and could be recalled for games against Malta away and North Macedonia at Old Trafford next month.
Eddie Howe said: “It’s one for Gareth, but he is certainly doing the right things, scoring goals. That is always going to get you the headlines. He is certainly in great form. I don’t know if it is his best. But I think he is very focused at the moment and he knows he has to be. I think the biggest compliment I can pay him is that whatever situation he’s been in he’s still been himself, laughing, smiling, joking. He is a really positive character. He’s somebody that the squad needs to be positive because he’s such a big personality within it. That is the biggest compliment I can pay him. It has helped him, he’s gone on the pitch and delivered for us. I am delighted for him personally because you can react to that in two ways, and he has chosen, the way I hoped he was.”
Wilson’s tally of goals for the season has taken him to 15 and he could be within swinging distance of hitting 20 with five matches to play. Wilson admitted he was left taken aback by some media criticism after a winter dip in form.
Eddie Howe said: “I think it’s natural at the elite level. Performances are broken down to the nth degree, not just by me the manager, by you guys in the Press. I think he will understand that comes with the territory.”
