Callum Wilson has quipped that punters should bet on him to score if he starts against Arsenal because the Newcastle United number nine comes 'alive' at night.
Wilson is in contention to make his first start since December after returning to action as a 68th-minute substitute against Man City last week. While Eddie Howe is conscious of not expecting too much too soon from Wilson, after several months out with a calf injury, the striker has again impressed in training this week and will certainly be called upon at some stage on Monday night.
The visit of Arsenal will be Newcastle's final home game of the campaign and Howe is expected to call his players in for a traditional tactical walkthrough before they later meet up at St James' Park. This formula has served Newcastle well for night matches and the Magpies have won all three of their most recent home games under the lights against Everton, Wolves and Crystal Palace.
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While the visit of Champions League-chasing Arsenal will be a different proposition entirely, the Gunners are short of options at the back. Not only is Rob Holding suspended, but Gabriel is a major doubt after hobbling off with a hamstring injury while Ben White could only make the bench for the North London Derby defeat against Spurs on Thursday after a spell out with a tight hamstring. Wilson will certainly be licking his lips at the thought of facing a makeshift defence under the lights.
"I actually enjoy playing at night-time," Wilson told the Footballer's Football Podcast. "I come alive at night. When you're preparing for a game and you're in the hotel on a Saturday, three o'clock kick-off, there's a little bit of waiting around.
"I try not to think about the game so much. I just relax. We go on team walks where I put my headphones in and listen to a little bit of music and stuff like that to focus but the night-time games I feel that, sometimes, when we're at home, we will be in at the morning in the club.
"The manager will have us in doing our tactical walkthrough, like not even getting up to a jog. You're just literally walking around the pitch with the detail.
"Then we would have lunch as a team and go home. At that point, some players go to sleep and have a little nap. Some players don't. I like to, personally, have a little sleep.
"I wouldn't sleep in the afternoon in a general day like, day to day, I don't have afternoon naps but when I've got a game in the evening, I do. It definitely gives me energy for the night-time game.
"Just having woke up, it's dark outside, the lights are on in the stadium, the fans are there. Honestly, it's getting me excited. Our next game is on Monday night and if you're a betting man, I'd bet on me to score if I was starting the game."
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