Wilson 'ready' for Tyne-Tees tussle

The young Magpies travel to Heritage Park aiming to leapfrog their Boro counterparts with a victory in Division Two as well as returning to winning ways following Monday's 2-1 defeat against Reading at United's Little Benton Academy, a game which saw Wilson return to under-23s action for the first time since September.

The 20-year-old, who joined United's Academy at the age of ten, is relishing the clash against their North East neighbours, with the two sides meeting in the opening game of the season during an entertaining 2-2 draw.

"I feel like we've got to put things right," he told nufc.co.uk. "We played well against Reading, more so in the second-half, but we had chances and it's about finishing them off.

"We have been working on that recently in training so hopefully we can take that into the game against Middlesbrough and come out with a better end product. 

"Middlesbrough are a decent side and it's a derby as well. Everyone in the changing room will be up for it and we have to take the game to them. Being a local lad and playing them ever since I was ten years old, it's always a bit extra when you play against your local rivals. 

"These games are the best ones to come back to. The mood is great, training has been good and intense and I feel everyone is ready to go. 

"We've had a few struggles with people being injured but I think that everyone is ready for these next games. Hopefully, we can get some strong results.

After featuring as a second-half substitute against Reading, Wilson marked his return to competitive action for the first time since sustaining an ankle ligament injury in September. 

The Newcastle-born winger has already been unfortunate in recent seasons after suffering a reoccurring thigh injury which left the youngster sidelined for ten months in 2019 but, after a long road to recovery, he is now determined to put his injury problem behind him.

"It felt good to be back out on the pitch against Reading," he added. "It's been a while and I've been through this before. The aim, now, is to stay on it.

"I'd worked through the summer, came back but then I tore the ligaments in my ankle against Shrewsbury (in the EFL Trophy), ten minutes into the second game of the season.

"I got up, tried to run on but my ankle wasn't having it. I thought I would only be out for a week or two but I then got scans, saw a specialist and was told I'd be out for at least a few months.

"I've grown stronger, both physically and mentally, during my time out. You go through a lot when you are injured and I feel I know my body a lot better coming out of the other side of it.

"It toughens you up and there are some days that are better than others but I'm now determined to make as good an impact as possible. I've been training for a couple of weeks, trying to see if I'm still sharp, but I feel good and hopefully I can add a bit to the team and get us winning some games."