Newcastle United transfer plans unclear after Wilson return as future star impresses behind scenes

It's a big month for Newcastle United as a collective and an equally important period of the season on a personal note for the Magpies' No 9 - Callum Wilson.

"It's a big moment for him. He needs to stay fit, and we need him to stay fit," Eddie Howe said after Wilson's first appearance of the season in Monday's defeat to West Ham United.

Newcastle travel to Crystal Palace this weekend, before welcoming Liverpool and Leicester City to St James' Park either side of a trip to Brentford. Then comes the small matter of the Carabao Cup quarter-final before a visit to Ipswich Town before Christmas. A crucial run, where Howe needs the bulk of his players fit and firing.

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Not only will Wilson's presence aid the team and push striker partner Alexander Isak onwards too, but the run of games may well determine what happens to the 32-year-old striker in both the upcoming transfer window and further down the line. Wilson is out of contract at the end of the campaign and speculation has been rife that a move away from the club could be in the offing.

Newcastle's lack of firepower through the middle has been evident this term with William Osula not yet deemed ready to fully step into the role as Isak's permanent understudy. As such, calls have, naturally, grown for a new forward to be signed in January due to Wilson's recent injury record and the fact he is currently poised to be a free agent come the summer.

"I think Callum has loads of incentives internally built within him," Howe said of the striker. "I wouldn't necessarily have to ask him about those. He is a very driven person and does regularly set himself goals.

"I'm sure his contract is on his mind but I think it will be in the back part of his brain because he will be focusing on the here and now and doesn't things that can affect his long term future for the positive."

Pressed further on how the veteran has dealt with the outside noise surrounding his absence, return and future, the head coach added: "One of the challenges for any modern day player, young player, coming through is the ability to ignore everything apart from obviously the information that you need from people that you respect and have got your best interests at heart.

"So I think that's a new thing that modern players are adjusting to because of the noise and social media and other avenues can be really loud. So if the players sort of took that information on and believed most of it, none of them would be able to kick a ball.

"So I think Callum's experienced enough to know that and, is very single minded in his pursuit of what he wants and that's one of the biggest qualities he has."

But what does Wilson's return mean for fellow forward Osula? Well, naturally, it would appear the summer signing is set for even fewer minutes in the coming weeks. This, after only 10 minutes of Premier League football and 127 minutes in all competitions this season.

The £10m summer arrival was always set to be a signing for the future and Howe insists he is more than happy with the 21-year-old's progress since his August unveiling.

"I think there's always a process a player has to go through, especially when they sign in Will's case with a lot of work ahead of him to get to be the player that he eventually wants to be," the Newcastle boss said on Friday. "But he's really committed to that work. I have to say he's been excellent. He's really embraced the coaching side of our work.

"He's worked really closely with Graham Jones, with myself, Jason [Tindall], Steve [Purches], Simon [Weatherstone]. Different people at different times. I think we've seen a real growth in his performance.

"Now, he's competing against two outstanding experienced centre forwards but he's got a big part in our future ahead of him."