Callum Wilson has recalled his controversial equaliser which earned AFC Bournemouth a 3-3 draw against West Ham United in December 2017. Wilson will be pitted against his podcast co-host Michail Antonio when Newcastle visit West Ham on Sunday, although it remains unclear if Wilson will be fit for their trip to the capital.
West Ham has been a happy hunting ground for Wilson. He has scored more goals (nine) against the Hammers than any other club and also scored his first Premier League hat-trick in a 4-3 win over them for Bournemouth in August 2015.
Nonetheless, Wilson has admitted that he was perhaps a tad fortunate to have one of those nine strikes to his name. The Cherries had led 2-1 until a late double from Marko Arnautovic had propelled West Ham to within touching distance of victory.
Then Wilson levelled proceedings with three minutes of stoppage time on the clock. West Ham players glanced quizzically at the linesman expecting to see his flag raised for a handball but their protests were to no avail.
Almost five years on, Wilson concedes that his self-proclaimed 'touch of magic' probably would've been ruled out had VAR been in place at the time.
"I jumped up to head the ball and as I've headed it, I've kind of missed an open goal," Wilson admitted on the Footballer's Football Podcast.
"Back then there wasn't any VAR. This was against West Ham as well and afterwards when an incident happens in a game that's contentious, they ask you straightaway as soon as you come off the pitch.
"So you're still in the heat of the moment. I've had an interview in front of the camera, just scored to equalise. They said, 'you've headed it and it's hit your arm, what was that?'.
"I said, 'the hand of god', or actually, 'a touch of magic' then all of a sudden I had so much stick from West Ham fans. I think that's why they hate me so much because of that game, But that's decisions where VAR would've come into good use."
Wilson has missed Newcastle's last three league matches with a hamstring injury after scoring twice in his opening three outings. However, the 30-year-old did hint that he is nearing a return.
"It’s difficult because I don’t want to say I am playing and I don’t want to say I’m not playing," Wilson revealed.
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