Former Newcastle United defender Jonathan Woodgate has praised Callum Wilson for his 'outstanding finish' in the opening-day win over Nottingham Forest. The number nine opened his account for the new season with the second goal in the comfortable 2-0 home win.
Eddie Howe's side produced a dominant display from start to finish, but struggled to test Dean Henderson in the first-half of the contest on Saturday afternoon. Joelinton came closest to breaking the deadlock following a fine run only to drag his shot wide, while Allan Saint-Maximin could not connect with a close-range header.
It took a thunderbolt from Fabian Schar to open the scoring, with the centre-back beating Henderson at his near post with a fine long-range strike. Wilson made sure of the victory 12 minutes' from time, with a superb improvised finish after meeting Joelinton's cutback.
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The Newcastle frontman had been on the periphery of proceedings at times as the hosts struggled to fashion clearcut openings. However, Woodgate felt the goal in front of the Leazes End was just reward for the 30-year-old.
He told BBC Radio 5 Live via The Boot Room: “An outstanding finish by Callum Wilson. Outside of the right foot, steers it round Henderson.
"The overlap run by Joelinton and then the finish. He’s deserved that today.”
Wilson reiterated his England ambitions in his post-match interviews following the victory, outlining his desire to force his way into Gareth Southgates' thinking for the winter World Cup. The former Bournemouth star earned the last of his four caps for his country in October 2019.
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