Your Mags in Japan! The club announced the squad traveling to Japan: View

Following Newcastle’s 2-0 victory over Hull City at the MKM Stadium, Eddie Howe confirmed that striker Callum Wilson has undergone surgery for a bulging disc and is expected to miss the Premier League opener against Southampton on August 17, as reported by Dominic Scurr of The Shields Gazette.

“Callum had an injection in his back. Without going into too much detail on the injury, I think it was a bulge in his disc which needed treatment so he had that operation and I think he may miss the start of the season,” Howe said. “But thankfully there are not too many games at the start. We’re week-to-week so hopefully he won’t miss too many.”

There is also the chance—as big or small as you want to consider it—that Wilson never again dresses in black and white stripes. Wilson is widely known to be available for sale as he is entering the final year under contract at Newcastle. Obviously, his injury is likely to make any transfer harder than expected, although there is still plenty of time for the Magpies to find suitors willing to land Wilson now instead of having to enter a bidding war for his services once he’s available to negotiate with any and everybody on January 1.

Truth be told, and even though he’s “only” 32 years old and he’s not been in Newcastle for even five calendar years, Wilson already ranks second in the Magpie goalscorer ranks trailing the legendary Alan Shreaer, who nobody (yes, nobody) will ever catch.