One of United's best who leaves a massive mark on football club

CALLUM Wilson lifted the gold medal up for the cameras.

- By CIARAN KELLY

"From the relegation battles to this," the veteran boomed as he made his way to the dressing room at Wembley.

Newcastle United had just defeated Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final to end a 70-year wait to win a major domestic trophy. It was the first big honour of Wilson's career. The sort of triumph that, at one stage, might not have seemed possible.

Only Wilson has never lacked belief. This was a player, after all, who wrote 'pack for Qatar' in his diary four months before he was named in the England squad for the 2022 World Cup. To think Wilson was not even in the England picture at the time and had not represented the Three Lions for three years.

However, there is a reason why Eddie Howe repeatedly warned 'you can never write off Callum Wilson.' The striker proved it time and time again, whether it was twice coming back from serious knee injuries during his time at Bournemouth or embracing the arrival of Alexander Isak and playing a key role in Newcastle qualifying for the Champions League in 2023.