Callum Wilson is fit again and back among the goals for Newcastle United after a stop-start season on Tyneside.

The Magpies hero started his very first game of the campaign in Saturday's FA Cup thriller against Birmingham City, helping himself to the second of Newcastle's three goals in the hard-fought 3-2 win. Before the St Andrew's showdown, Wilson had featured just five times from the bench after a hamstring injury in December left him sidelined for the second time in just a matter of months.

After a January that saw no incomings at St James' Park, coupled with Howe's squad being depleted due to Miguel Almiron and Lloyd Kelly-shaped departures, it is more important than ever that Wilson manages to stay fit between now and the end of the campaign.

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"I've worked hard to get into the position now to be able to start games again," Wilson told the BBC a few moments after the cup win. "I didn't want to come back too soon so that I was coming off the bench trying to get my fitness up.

"So I'm trying to just basically play as many games as I can now from now to the end of the season. Help the team, get some goals and things like that. Yeah it's been frustrating to say the least, but hopefully on the other side of it now and can just contribute from here out."

Newcastle have indeed been patient with Wilson, taking extra precaution behind the scenes to ensure he is raring to go this time around after recent setbacks. However, there is still an element of simply praying and hoping for the best, with Howe keeping his fingers crossed the experienced forward can play a big part at the business end of the season.

"He is very confident about his body and has gone through recovery slightly differently this time," the Newcastle boss said this week. "He has done a lot of work for this moment and he feels robust. In his eyes, he feels ready to start games. Fingers crossed his body responds in a positive way."

Newcastle suffered unfortunate injury luck elsewhere in the win over Birmingham, with Dan Burn limping out of the clash in the second-half. Anthony Gordon also missed the clash entirely with a minor quad issue, which Howe hopes won't prove too serious.