I’ve canned 700-mile trips to see my family in bid to make my England World Cup dream come true, says Callum Wilson

CALLUM WILSON knows he has lots of catching up to do to gatecrash England’s World Cup squad.

But the Newcastle striker is nothing if not confident — and a plan is in place to turn that dream into reality.

A brace on the final day of the season to relegate Burnley, coming six days after his first start since December, served as a gentle reminder to the doubters.

Hamstring, thigh and calf issues have limited Wilson to just 39 league starts in two seasons since joining from Bournemouth.

And in an exclusive interview with SunSport, Wilson, 30, said: “I know I need to stay fit.

“It’s been frustrating and I’m putting things in place off the field that I know can add small percentages to contribute to that.”

Asked what he is doing, there is a long pause before Wilson revealed: “I was wondering what I should and shouldn’t say…

“Basically, my family still live in Poole down in Dorset. Travelling back and forth to see them after games and on days off probably contributed to having setbacks over the last two years.

“I’m going to move them up with me. That is going to minimise travel so on my days off I’ll actually be going to the training ground for recovery.

“It’s the only thing that has changed from before. The season before I joined Newcastle I played 39 games — but that’s dropped each season here.

“When you have an injury, if you don’t then build up that accumulative load you can get another injury because your body is not robust enough.

“This will stand me in good stead. I want to be fit and firing from the start of next season to give myself the best opportunity to represent my country at a World Cup.

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“That is my driving motivation this summer.”

Stage one of Operation Qatar is a family holiday to Greece to turbo-charge the batteries.

And if Wilson can score the goals to get Toon off to a flier, Gareth Southgate — who handed him all his four England caps, the last coming in 2019 — will surely take notice.

Right-back Kieran Trippier, 31, became the first Newcastle player to win an England call-up since Andros Townsend in 2016 when named in Southgate’s Nations League squad.

And with that arduous 700-mile round trip to the south coast no more, Wilson reckons that he offers the England boss something he has not had.

Tammy Abraham is the only other centre-forward alongside Harry Kane for the upcoming games — with a trip to Hungary first up a week on Saturday.

And Wilson said: “I feel I add a different dimension and dynamic to the striking department.

“My style is a bit different, a bit unique — running in behind a bit more, an off-the-shoulder type.

“You want different sorts of firepower going into a World Cup.

“If he wants someone to do that or come on and make an impact alongside Harry… 

Travelling back and forth to see family after games and on days off probably contributed to having setbacks over the last two years.

Callum Wilson

“The only way to get into the manager’s mind is by starting the season well. By doing that and staying fit, I’m hoping I can break into that squad.”

The main man on Tyneside when fit, Toon boss Eddie Howe is eyeing another striker to compete with Wilson and Chris Wood.

After recovering from bottom of the league to 11th, the super-rich Magpies have grand ambitions to smash their way into the elite and will embark on another lavish transfer splurge to go alongside the £92million spent in January.

If Benfica’s Darwin Nunez looks an overly-ambitious target, Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin and out-of-contract Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah are admired and more realistic.

Wilson declared that Wood’s January arrival would bring out the “dog” in him.

So with the Saudi owners ready to splash out on a new forward, his message is simple: “Bring in who you like.”

As long as they do not pinch your No 9 shirt, right?

Laughing, Wilson added: “That’s the bottom line! You don’t want anyone taking your shirt off you. Wearing the No 9 is an honour.

“I’ll always back myself. That mindset got me to where I am.

“I’m going to be replaced one day, I’m not deluded. But as long as I am feeling fit and strong, I’ll do everything to keep it.

“If anyone has ever doubted you, put on a show — like I did against Burnley and Arsenal — just to let them know.

“A reminder to everyone who hasn’t seen me for four months.

“Your phone pings when you score a goal and when you get your tooth knocked out — like I did against Arsenal.

“However, it doesn’t when you get injured. Nobody contacts you as much.”

Wilson did not score in the season’s penultimate game, but he ran the Gunners ragged and looked like he had never been away.

Afterwards, Gary Lineker tweeted: “If he could stay fit he’d be one of the best strikers in the Premier League.”

Wilson says he was “flattered” by the praise, but what about that big if? Do those comments gnaw away?

Without hesitation, he replied: “No, it’s just fuel to the fire and adds to the burning desire to prove people wrong.

“I am not the most technically gifted player but my mentality, and proving people wrong, has got me to where I am.

“It’s the thing that has made me resilient to injuries and adversity."

So is next season about making up for lost time on Tyneside and shutting the critics up?

Wilson fires back: “It’s about scoring more than eight goals — that’s for sure!”