Callum Wilson is facing a battle to be fit for the end of the season.
Newcastle ’s star striker has just got off crutches and started to walk properly following a calf injury, and coach Eddie Howe has given a concerning update on his recovery.
Wilson, 29, is Newcastle’s top scorer this season with six goals but was crocked on December 27 against Manchester United and said to be out for around eight weeks.
But his recovery has been “slow” with difficulty in pinpointing the injury and he is now only likely to return for the last few games of the relegation campaign at best.
It is a huge blow to big spending Newcastle who brought in Chris Wood for £25m in January, but failed to land another attacker, after deadline day moves for Hugo Ekitike and Jesse Lingard stalled.
Newcastle are second bottom of the league with just 21 goals all season, and their ability to outscore opponents is now their biggest worry after strengthening their defence with three new players last month.
Allan Saint-Maximin is their next top scorer with five goals.
Howe said: “Callum was recently on crutches and is now walking normally.
“From that update you can realise it is quite slow. It is not short term and hopefully he can make the last few games of the season.
“There is a time when he is due back but it is not absolutely clear. It has been slow progress.
“I don’t know on time. We are taking it on symptoms rather than giving a time. I think with Callum’s injury, I said at the start, it wasn’t clear on the first scan quite what the injury was.
“He has gone away and is having intense treatment and giving him the best care we can as a football club. A return date is unclear.”
Asked if Wilson could have been left out of the new 25 man squad to finish the season, Howe said keeping him in was a “risk worth taking.”
He added: “We were never going to leave Callum out. He can play a big part at the end of the season, but that is a risk. It was a risk worth taking.”
Howe is deciding whether to give £40m new boy Bruno Guimaraes his debut against Everton on Tuesday night.
He added: “We will assess Bruno and make a decision on how quick we transition him into the team. I can’t wait to see him in a Newcastle shirt.
“He has composure and calmness which we need in midfield.
“He has a creative eye, is an intelligent footballer, his positioning is good and he demands the ball constantly.
“There will be a period of adjustment. It is the quickest league in the world and he will have to get up to speed quickly, and deal with that.”
The United boss was pleased to be backed so heavily by the club’s Saudi owners, who pumped another £40m last week to cover immediate transfer costs.
But Howe admits the business wasn’t “perfect” after missing out on another striker.
Howe said today: “The window was challenging and things changed on a minute by minute basis. I have no complaints and no regrets. The club has supported me and the team to stay up .
“It wasn’t perfect but we did the best under the circumstances.”
