England vs USA: Callum Wilson relishing playing on Wembley pitch for the first time

The only time Wilson has been to the stadium was to watch his beloved Coventry City win the Checkatrade Trophy

Jack Pitt-Brooke
Wednesday 14 November 2018 19:21 GMT
Comments
Gareth Southgate confirms Wayne Rooney will be part of England squad

Callum Wilson is a Coventry City fan, who came through their academy to play for the first team, and yet even he was “disappointed” that the first time he went to Wembley was to witness one of their greatest days of recent years. Wilson was there in the stands 18 months ago when Coventry beat Oxford United 2-1 to win the Checkatrade Trophy, cheering on the team he had left three years before to join Bournemouth.

But while Wilson was delighted for the club he supported and who brought him through, he was frustrated that his first trip to Wembley was for anything other than his England debut there. That is how important the national team and the national stadium are to Wilson. And why his England debut, tomorrow night against the United States, means the world to him. Ever since the start of his career, even when he was playing on loan for Kettering Town and Tamworth, playing for England at Wembley was always his focus. On Thursday night he will finally fulfil that dream.

Callum Wilson spent five years at his hometown club Coventry City

“I said I'd never go to Wembley until I played for England,” Wilson revealed in a press conference at St George’s Park on Tuesday afternoon. He did not even want to set foot in the stadium before his international debut. He has managed not to play there yet, missing Bournemouth’s Wembley games since Tottenham have played there.

But in 2017 he did step inside the stadium, not on the pitch but in the stands, to cheer his boyhood club Coventry on in the Checkatrade Trophy final. It was a great day, but there some regret that he went there too soon. “Even when I was at Coventry, playing in the Conference, I always said that I would play at Wembley for England,” Wilson said. “I’ve never played at Wembley, and the only time I have been there was to watch Coventry in the Checkatrade Trophy last season.”

Callum Wilson has scored six goals in the Premier League this season

“I was disappointed to go, but also happy for Coventry, and they won that day. Being honest, I was actually disappointed I wasn’t there with England for the first time."

When Bournemouth lost 1-0 to Spurs at Wembley on 14 October 2017, Wilson was out injured. So tomorrow’s appearance will still be a special one. “I didn't go, I wasn't able to play,” he said. “I just sort of missed out. When you're injured you try and stay away from away games, because it frustrates you even more not being able to play. I haven’t set foot down on the pitch. So hopefully that will be for my country."

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in