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Bournemouth Fan View: Can Callum Wilson recapture his old form?

Eddie Howe and Callum Wilson, possibly discussing which A-ha track is better – Take On Me or The Sun Always Shines.
Eddie Howe and Callum Wilson, possibly discussing which A-ha track is better – Take On Me or The Sun Always Shines.

Everyone loves the return of a beloved hit. Whether it’s a three dimensional version of Terminator 2, the reboot of Cadbury Dairy Milk Tiffin, or Callum Wilson coming back from yet another injury.

That’s right, Callum Wilson is back! Again. And he might have a very large part to play in whether my AFC Bournemouth side can stay up.

Maybe that’s a tad hyperbolic, but with our issues up front so far this campaign it’s a statement that’s rooted in some truth. If only, perhaps, a little truth.

Wily Wilson

Callum Wilson returned to action in our 3-2 win over Norwich City in the Premier League Cup on Wednesday night – a tournament that is not completely understood by anyone on the face of the earth. And that’s a stone cold fact.

In any case, he completed 65 minutes of action. A superb achievement after spending eight months out injured with yet another ACL injury.

If there’s a player that deserves a clean bill of health and a chance to be a success in the Premier League team it’s Callum Wilson. And he certainly can make an impact, considering his style of play.

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No to King and Defoe

Callum Wilson with the match ball after bagging three goals at Upton Park back in 2015
Callum Wilson with the match ball after bagging three goals at Upton Park back in 2015

This is because Wilson can do something none of the other strikers on our books can do effectively – run the channels.

Benik Afobe works hard but is more of a physical target man. Josh King is more of a direct one-man battering ram. Jermain Defoe is a sharp shooting in-the-box poacher.

Wilson, on the other hand, loves running the wings – jostling with defenders to run in to take strikes at goal. And he’s superb at it too, as anyone who saw him in our Championship title-winning side will confirm.

It looked like he could be as effective for us in the Premier League too, back in the good old year 2015. He scored five goals in six games in our first ever top flight season. His hat trick at Upton Park against West Ham being a particular highlight.

Sadly his horrible-looking injury at Stoke City in September 2015 put a swift end to that impressive goal scoring run. He didn’t return until we’d all but confirmed safety that season.

Callum Wilson the comeback king?

Callum Wilson getting injured at Stoke City, bad times.
Callum Wilson getting injured at Stoke City, bad times.

Sadly after his return from that initial injury – at the start of the 2016-17 campaign – he never looked quite the same. There were flashes of class – he terrorised Arsenal in that infamous 3-3 draw for example – but in many games he looked colourless, flat. He was often dropped to the bench as a result.

There were also concerns that he could be looking for a move away from the club, being linked to sides such as Newcastle United.

I have a feeling he’ll be more focused in this second injury comeback though. He suddenly has a whole lot more to prove, and I think that challenge will suit him down to the ground.

It’s no secret that our partnership of King and Defoe up front simply isn’t working. So I imagine Wilson may have a chance to impress sooner rather than later. And if he takes the chance with both hands he could be – cliche alert – like a whole new signing for us. Fingers crossed…