Callum Wilson cited Alexander Isak’s record-breaking transfer fee when asked about the penalty situation at Newcastle United. The Magpies’ blushes were spared when a soft penalty call helped rescue a point against Bournemouth.
Kieran Trippier’s cross struck Jefferson Lerma on the arm and, after consulting the pitchside VAR monitor, referee Craig Pawson overturned his decision and awarded a spot-kick. Summer arrival Isak buried the resulting penalty to salvage a draw on an otherwise underwhelming afternoon at St James’ Park.
However, the Swede is unlikely to be on 12-yard duties for long as Wilson eyes a return. The Toon number nine has been the undisputed penalty king since arriving in 2020 - scoring all six he has taken in black-and-white stripes.
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Someone as hungry for goals as Wilson is unlikely to relinquish his role when he returns from a hamstring strain. Eddie Howe decided against risking the 30-year-old last weekend but he is in the frame to feature against Fulham on October 1.
Constructing a system that gets the best out of Wilson and Isak has intrigued Newcastle supporters since the latter’s big-money move. So far, the former Real Sociedad man has scored two goals in three games as a striker but may be shifted out wide once his teammate returns.
On their Footballer’s Football podcast, West Ham United striker Michail Antonio baited his co-host about the quality of Isak’s penalty. Wilson pointed to the hefty £60million price tag as a reason the 23-year-old had to score but admitted he was glad to see somebody else “step up” to the plate.
“For £60million, I should expect him to put it away!” he quipped. “In my absence, you always want somebody to step up and have that confidence and composure to put it away."
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