Newcastle: Callum Wilson has chest surgery as Eddie Howe hopes for return this season

Newcastle striker Callum Wilson has had chest surgery and could miss much of the rest of the season.

He has scored eight goals in 22 games in all competitions for Newcastle this season, but has been hampered by hamstring and calf injuries.

“It is no doubt a big blow for him,” said Newcastle manager Eddie Howe.

“It’s been a stop-start season for him. We hope he’s back before the end of the season.”

Wilson completed the game against Forest, but used his shirt to make a sling at full-time.

“It was a strange injury. He got in a tussle with the centre-back at the end of the last match,” said Howe.

“We had it scanned and hoped initially he could continue, but when he went to see a specialist I think it was apparent quite early that he needed it operating on.”

Newcastle, who are seventh in the table, host Bournemouth on Saturday.

They have 14 games remaining before the season ends on 19 May.

Wilson was part of the England side that beat Scotland in a friendly in September.

England play friendlies against Brazil and Belgium next month before Euro 2024 starts on 14 June.

Howe, meanwhile, said he wants a “quick resolution” to the future of Newcastle sporting director Dan Ashworth.

Manchester United have approached Ashworth to take up a similar role at Old Trafford.

Howe said Ashworth had given him no assurances he would stay, but said on Friday morning: “As we speak now, we’ve had no contact from anyone.

“It’s quite an unusual situation. Usually there’s transfer speculation on players – this is very different.”