‘He affects games’: Pundit thinks 30-year-old Newcastle man should go to the World Cup ahead of Everton rival

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For most Newcastle United fans, the upcoming World Cup is a very unwelcome distraction to their current fantastic form.

Eddie Howe’s side deservedly sit in the top four of the Premier League a third of the way through the season.

Speaking on BBC 5 Live, Glenn Murray was discussing potential inclusions in England’s World Cup squad.

Specifically, Murray was asked about who should be in Gareth Southgate’s squad as Harry Kane’s back-up.

It’s a role that has been filled by a number of different forwards in Southgate’s recent squads.

Ivan Toney was included in September, but didn’t play a minute in either Nations League match.

Tammy Abraham was also in the squad, while Ollie Watkins and Marcus Rashford have both been included in the past 12 months.

However, Murray has said that Newcastle’s Callum Wilson should go to the World Cup as long as he stays fit.

Wilson should go to the World Cup – Murray

Speaking on BBC 5 Live (30/10 1:51pm), Murray was given a list of potential forwards to choose from.

Murray believed that Wilson was a better choice to go to the World Cup ahead of Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Both strikers have had their injury issues in the past few seasons, but are fully fit again now.

Wilson has certainly hit the ground running faster than Calvert-Lewin, although his layoff wasn’t as long.

He impressed against Aston Villa yesterday, scoring twice and assisting the other two goals in front of Southgate.

Darren Bent has also backed the 30-year-old forward to head to Qatar as part of Southgate’s 26-man squad.

Calvert-Lewin on the other hand is still lacking some sharpness in front of goal.

He scored a wonderful goal against Crystal Palace last weekend, but missed a sitter against Fulham yesterday.

He’s Frank Lampard’s best striker, and is going to be afforded plenty of opportunities by Lampard to play himself into form.

When asked which striker should be going to the World Cup next month out of Calvert-Lewin, Toney, Wilson and Rashford, Murray said Wilson was the obvious choice.

“There’s only one in that list I would take if he’s fit and that’s Callum Wilson,” Murray said.

“I think when you look over the three years, I feel as though whenever he’s fit he scores goals.

“He guarantees goals, he affects games, he’s willing to run in behind, he’s a very different option for me to Harry Kane.

“It’s a plan B which I think we may be lacking from a major tournament, and it’s all down to his fitness.

“I feel as though when he’s fit and firing, he’s a top, top striker.”