Callum Wilson accepts he is an 'underdog' but is confident he can force his way into England's World Cup squad if he starts next season 'on fire' for Newcastle United. The Magpies' number nine has been sidelined since December, having scored six goals in 15 Premier League appearances.
Wilson has not been shy in outlining his ambition to add to his four England caps so far since signing for Newcastle in September 2020. The former Bournemouth striker's time on Tyneside has been punctuated by injury setbacks, but he finished his debut season as the club's top scorer and remains on course to do so again.
Wilson scored on his Three Lions debut against the USA at Wembley in November 2018, but has not earned a call-up during his stint at St James' Park so far. Harry Kane remains Gareth Southgate's undisputed first-choice striker, with a host of rivals angling for a back-up spot.
READ MORE: Callum Wilson gives injury update and reveals Newcastle United aim before end of season
Newcastle's number nine accepts he is some way down the pecking order at this stage, but believes a strong start to the next season in black-and-white could catapult him into contention. The 30-year-old namechecked his five closest rivals for the position, and reckons they will all be setting themselves the same target ahead of the World Cup's start in November.
Wilson told the Footballer's Football Podcast: "England keep on winning, and I'm backing them to be favourites at the World Cup to be honest. I think with the squad, and the break in our season, players will recharge and refresh, I think we've got a great chance of winning it this year which hopefully can happen.
"The months leading up to the World Cup, you hope everyone stays fit because I'm sure Southgate at the moment probably knows most of his squad. But saying that, if players start the season on fire and are flying come World Cup selection, there's going to have to be some underdogs who get called up [clears throat].
"For me, any player who is English is going to want to try and break into that squad. As soon as I'm fit, that's something that's on my agenda for the new season.
"As a striker, if come November when the tournament is due to start, if you are on 10 goals, you can't tell me you don't then get selected into the squad. That's not talking about myself, you're talking [Patrick] Bamford, Danny Ings, [Ollie] Watkins, [Dominic] Calvert-Lewin, [Tammy] Abraham, myself.
"There's a lot of players besides Kane that are trying to go for that other striking place. I guess whoever starts the season on fire is going to have the best opportunity of getting that.
"If you're not ambitious, you wouldn't get to the situation you are in or have played for England before. You have to have that hunger and desire to want to keep succeeding."
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