Worrying comments from Callum Wilson as striker makes fitness admission on BBC podcast

Callum Wilson hasn't been himself over the past few months and it seems his struggle to regain full fitness have continued this week.

The striker has suffered a couple of serious knee injuries in his career, also missing big sections of the past three seasons with hamstring and calf problems, however it seems illness is now impacting his availability.

Wilson caught Covid prior to his World Cup call-up, then Howe revealed he was struggling upon his return from Qatar, confirming that he had 'very limited' training time in January.

A few months later, Wilson almost missed last weekend's win over Wolves due to illness and has now revealed he's "not trained in over a week" ahead of tonight's trip to Nottingham Forest.

Speaking alongside Michail Antonio on the BBC's Footballer's Football Podcast, Wilson had this to say just a few nights ago:

“For me, I've not trained in over a week now. So we need someone and that's why we've brought [Isak] in, to come into the team and not let it hamper when anyone comes out of the team.

"That's what we're trying to build here, we're trying to get players who are just as good as each other so there's competition first and foremost but the team is still performing.

"It was a great performance from him and as a striker, you need him to score but as someone who plays in his position you're like, it's going to take me an extra week to get back in!

"You've got to believe in your ability and competition is healthy. He's a good player and let it keep happening, I'll keep putting the pressure on, he'll keep putting the pressure on, that's what's going to bring the best out of each other.”

Wilson then confirmed he's been suffering from "illness", but accepts he's not going to keep his place in the side - especially with Isak about - if he isn't performing on the pitch:

“I'm not deluded and think I'm going to keep playing. If you're not performing on the pitch, no matter who you are in our team and with the way the club is wanting to go, someone else with come in and replace you.

"Ultimately it's taken an illness [for me] for that to happen and he's come in and took his opportunity. There'll be people who will be saying it should have happened weeks ago but football is not like that.

" He's taken his opportunity when it has come around and now it's up to me to get back into the team which is something I'm more than happy and capable of doing.”

Hopefully our No 9 can shake off these lingering issues and get back to his best form in a black and white shirt after just one goal in his last 15 appearances for the club.