Callum Wilson targets spot in England’s World Cup 2022 squad

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Gareth Southgate is still looking for a guaranteed option to be Harry Kane’s backup striker at the 2022 World Cup.

There are plenty of choices; Ollie Watkins was called into this squad to replace the injured Tammy Abraham, and scored against the Ivory Coast.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin was second choice at Euro 2020, while Patrick Bamford was also called up straight after that tournament and mentioned by Southgate as someone who is still an option ahead of Qatar.

But speaking on the Footballer’s Football Podcast, Newcastle’s Callum Wilson said he still has ambitions to force his way back into contention.

“If players start the season on fire next year and are flying come World Cup selection there is going to have to be some underdogs who get called up, i.e myself,” said Wilson.

“For me any player who is English is going to want to try and break into that squad and once I’m back fit that’s on my agenda for sure.”

Wilson looked to have established himself as Kane’s deputy between the 2018 World Cup and the 2019 Nations League.

But he has not played for his country since a 14-minute substitute appearance against Bulgaria in October 2019, which England won 6-0.

His previous call-ups mean he knows he has qualities that Southgate values and he is a proven Premier League goalscorer when fit.

But there is healthy competition for those striking slots, even if Marcus Rashford’s loss of form and demotion from the squad perhaps opens up an extra place than was on offer at Euro 2020.

It will just come down to who is fit and firing by the time the mid-season World Cup squad is named and Wilson has to back himself to get in.

It will not be easy, but all he can do is keep scoring goals with Newcastle and see how far it takes him.