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newcastle Owner eddie howe West Ham striker revealed callum wilson He will always be one of his favorite players he has managed.
The 33-year-old could face against his former club for the first time since leaving St James’ Park this summer when the magpies Off to struggling West Ham on Sunday.
Wilson, who was then manager steve bruce £20 million, spent five years at St James’ Park and scored 49 goals in 130 competitive appearances for the club.
Asked if the frontman is one of his favorite players he has worked with, head coach Howe, who signed him for Bournemouth from Coventry for £3m in July 2014, said: “Yes, without doubt.
“I can say that now because of watching Callum’s rise. After signing him, obviously he wasn’t the same player he was at the time and he had to go through a period of redevelopment. But he did that straight away and he was one of the rare players I signed who went straight in.
“He scored two goals in his very first match – and never looked back. And then it was seen how he coped with the different challenges that came his way.
“He had unwavering confidence, but it was never arrogance. He had it completely in the right place, and then he never changed that with success, which is one of the key fundamentals.
“He is the same person today as he was at the beginning of his career, so for all those reasons and seeing how much hard work he has put into his game, he is perfect.”
Wilson’s stay on Tyneside ended this summer after a disappointing battle against injury which limited him to just 22 appearances last season – 19 of them as a substitute – and one goal, although he left with a Carabao Cup winners’ medal and a ringing endorsement from his manager.
Six of his seven appearances for the Hammers so far and his only goal have also come from the bench as he attempts to establish himself at his new club.
However, Howe’s affection for Wilson and gratitude for his service at both Newcastle and Bournemouth are strictly limited.
When asked if he would be happy if the England international scored a consolation goal in the Magpies’ win this weekend, he replied: “No, I could never say that.
“It’s always about us and making sure any relationship is different when the game is on.”