Kieran Trippier and Callum Wilson do not appear to be injury doubts for the World Cup despite both getting subbed off during Newcastle’s win at Southampton on Sunday.
Newcastle ran riot at St. Mary’s with a 4-1 win over Southampton courtesy of goals from Miguel Almiron, Chris Wood, Joe Willock and Bruno Guimaraes.
However, England manager Gareth Southgate, who was watching from the stands, was given not one but two big scares during the match when Trippier and Wilson both appeared to suffer injury blows.
Trippier pulled up toward the end of the first-half with what appeared to be a slight hamstring problem but returned to the pitch shortly after and carried on before getting subbed off in the 80th minute.
After the game, the defender said: ‘I felt it tighten up as I stretched but I came out in the second half to carry on. I’m OK.’
This will be of huge relief to Southgate, with Trippier likely to be England’s starting right-back in Qatar, with Manchester City’s Kyle Walker and Chelsea’s Reece James still on the sidelines with a groin and knee injury respectively.
As for Wilson, the striker was shockingly brought off at half-time against the Saints but Howe later confirmed reports that it was just a precaution as the player had been suffering with illness in the build-up to the game.
‘Callum wasn’t that well in the week and felt light-headed and dizzy so that’s why he came off,’ the Newcastle manager said.
‘It was a joint decision, he didn’t feel he had the energy needed and it was easy decision to replace him with Chris [Wood], who came on and got the job done.’
Wilson may not have played for England since 2019 but his form this season has fuelled calls for a recall, with Southgate lacking a clear second-choice striker to act as back-up to Harry Kane.
The 30-year-old has scored six in nine games so far this campaign to help propel the Magpies to third in the Premier League table.
Southgate is set to name his 26-man squad for the World Cup on Thursday.
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