Callum Wilson rescued a point for Newcastle United against Crystal Palace and Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi will already know that the number nine has a huge role to play in this new era
Amanda Staveley repeatedly looked at her phone in the directors' box at Selhurst Park as yet another WhatsApp message came through.
Newcastle United's search for a new manager is heating up - clearly, every hour counts - but whoever comes in as Steve Bruce's successor already knows they have a priceless asset at their disposal: a goalscorer.
When the chips were down, and Newcastle were behind against Crystal Palace on Saturday, Callum Wilson stepped up with a superb equaliser midway through the second half.
Whereas no one was surprised by how Christian Benteke opened the scoring for the hosts - Newcastle had enough warnings about the Belgian's threat in the air - the manner of Wilson's equaliser stunned the whole stadium.
Palace, who have been vulnerable at set-pieces of late, had work to do when Jamaal Lascelles headed Matt Ritchie's corner across the goal and Emil Krafth inadvertently flicked the ball on.
Wilson then made the split second decision to attempt a bicycle kick when it did not even look like a half chance was in the offing. It is one thing to try something like this, but to have the technique and sense of timing to actually pull it off is a different matter entirely.
Rather than basking in the glory - this was one of the best goals Wilson has ever scored, after all - the number nine immediately got up off the floor, saluted the away end and led his side back to the halfway line for the restart.
As Newcastle got back into formation in their own half, Wilson encouraged those around him by clapping his hands as he urged his team-mates to keep going to try and win the game. It was yet another example of the £20m man's elite mentality as a player who is never satisfied.
The delirious away end sung Wilson's name, to a tune previously reserved for Alan Shearer, and Staveley could not help but smile.
(Image: PA) |
This is the difference Wilson makes to this side. As long as Newcastle are still in a game - the Magpies were at least a little more solid against Palace even if Benteke could have scored four goals on the day - they will always have a chance of getting something.
Newcastle are over reliant on Wilson but the 29-year-old relishes that pressure - even when he is still building up his match fitness after a recent spell out with a thigh injury.
It says it all that interim boss Graeme Jones rates Wilson as the best match day finisher he has ever worked with.
Wilson's professionalism in training cannot be faulted but he truly comes alive in stadiums - particularly in front of crowds.
Wilson has scored so many big goals this season, including openers against West Ham and Spurs and equalisers versus Southampton and Crystal Palace, yet those finishes have only resulted in two points.
Although Wilson turns 30 in February, and has played in little more than half of Newcastle's games in 2021 because of niggling injuries, can you imagine what he could do with a reinforced defence behind him?
Newcastle's new owners have only witnessed two games since buying the club earlier this month, but they will already know they have an untouchable to build around and that is Callum Wilson.