Newcastle boss Howe makes clear Wilson sale stand

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe insists he's not seeking to sell Callum Wilson.

The striker has been raised as a name to be cashed in to ease Financial Fair Play concerns.

But Howe said: "I expect him to come back. I expect him to be at Newcastle next season. I love my players, I love all of them. But different players at different times you might have to say goodbye to them.

"Whether that's me leaving or them leaving. That is part and parcel of football. But I want to keep him at this football club."

On hoping to pair Wilson and Alexander Isak in attack consistently, he said: "I think along with a lot of other factors that has been one of the main ones. I think if you go back to the season before I was dovetailing them in and out together.

"It was a brilliant option to have, I could dovetail them together. If one player looked fatigue I could replace the other, the competition between them was healthy and seemed to drive them both on.

"I think when you only have one of them available that competition goes which can have a detrimental effect. Then one of them has had to stay on the pitch when they have not been on the physical best.

"So it has been an issue for us. I would love the option to have played them more together, but every manager will have their own tale to tell."