Why Callum Wilson misses Newcastle United's Premier League clash vs Brighton

Newcastle United are without Callum Wilson for this afternoon’s Premier League clash at home to Brighton and Hove Albion.

The Magpies’ No.9 recently returned from eight weeks out with a pectoral muscle injury and goals against Sheffield United and Burnley saw him become the club’s second all-time Premier League record goalscorer behind Alan Shearer.

He started - and opened the scoring - in last weekend’s 4-1 win at Turf Moor but drops out of the starting XI today, and is replaced by Elliot Anderson. United boss Eddie Howe explained: "Just feeling not 100 per cent today. A little of tightness, it's not an injury as such."

The 32-year-old has now missed 24 games this campaign through injury as speculation continues to surround his future. He is out-of-contract next summer.

Howe said after the Burnley game “he’ll do everything” he can to keep the England striker but admits a different viewpoint could be taken as the club comply with Premier League Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

“There is always a different viewpoint,” said Howe. “I have one as a manager trying to win football matches and the club have to be sustainable and comply with the rules and financial fair play. So we work together as a team on that.

“There is no part of me that will ever go against the club, and there is no part of the club who would willingly go against me if they didn’t think it was the right thing for the long term future. We are very much a team and the relationship, the dynamics of that have worked well since I have been here. We are wanting to push the team as far as we can obviously within the rules.”