THERE was a certain amount of trepidation in the air after Lewis Grabban elected to swap Cherries for Norwich City in the summer of 2014.

This was fair enough. After all, the former Rotherham striker had fired 22 goals in the Championship the previous season, breaking Luther Blissett’s second flight scoring record for the Dorset club.

Grabban’s total haul of 35 goals in 93 appearances did not, in theory, seem overly straightforward to replace.

But nobody – Eddie Howe apart – had realised the talents of an explosive young striker from League One Coventry would more than fill the void.

On a sweltering day in August, Callum Wilson made his competitive Cherries debut. And in his 82 minutes on the pitch at Huddersfield, the £3million man showed all the talents the Dean Court faithful have come to love.

Wilson’s movement dragged the Terriers backline all over the place. His strength kept opposition players at bay at close quarters. His link-up play was excellent.

Then there was the finishing. First, he found acres of space on the right side of the box and slotted past Alex Smithies, finding a corridor of space between goalkeeper and near post which seemed non-existent.

In the second half, showing sublime control, he caressed Matt Ritchie’s whipped cross beyond Smithies’ despairing dive.

A missed penalty was the only black mark. Wilson had two and Cherries a 4-0 victory – their biggest away win on the opening day since joining the Football League in 1923.

Speaking to the Daily Echo afterwards, Wilson said: “If you can score goals at any level, it will stand you in good stead.”

How true that turned out to be. Wilson spoke engagingly and lucidly for a man of 22 and it was clear he had complete confidence in his ability – but not a shred of arrogance.

He possessed a positive outlook and an entrenched belief that his spell at the club would go well.

Therein lies the beauty of Callum Wilson.

It’s one thing to have the skill set, quite another to have the mental fortitude, guts and determination to bounce back from two awful knee injuries.

Let’s make no mistake. Wilson’s lengthy spells out could have ended his career, or certainly irreparably damaged it. Instead he kept his head up, grafted behind the scenes for months on end and got back to the first team – twice.

The truth is that Wilson has always had the tools to make it to England level but so have many others who have not made it. Under Howe’s watchful eye, the Coventry-born ace has developed into the real deal.

The stats say he is quicker than ever. He appears as hard-working as any Premier League player. He is scoring regularly. He has added assists to his game.

It would be a fitting reward if the 26-year-old were tomorrow to be handed his senior England debut against the United States.

There is, of course, a view that England caps are sometimes handed out too readily. But there can be no argument that Wilson, having served his time in non-league, the Football League and now the Premier League, has earned his stripes.

The major takeaway from the Huddersfield game four years ago was that, unquestionably, Wilson had the ability to play at a higher level. On that score, he proved us right.

Now it’s up to Mr Southgate as to whether Wilson completes the set.