CHERRIES boss Eddie Howe reckons comeback king Callum Wilson is an inspiration to his fellow professionals.

Wilson bounced back from two serious knee injuries to rebuild his club career and then earn full international honours with the England senior side.

The 26-year-old enjoyed a dream debut when he scored in a 3-0 win against the United States at Wembley on Thursday.

Put to him that Wilson’s England call had made him an inspiration to footballers everywhere, Howe told the Daily Echo: “Yes, it does. I think that’s a really nice way of putting it because you show me a footballer who hasn’t had an injury.

“I’d say he either doesn’t exist or is extremely lucky. You are going to get them, you just hope and pray you don’t get the serious ones – the ones which keep you out for a long period of time and involve operations.

“Injuries happen up and down the country and I feel for any footballer who gets themselves in that position.

“The key thing is how you use that time out and your mindset going into it.

“How you approach that dictates how you come out the other side and Callum, both times, was not down, negative or despondent for a second – certainly not around other people.

“Maybe privately he would have had moments where he had to talk to people but full credit to him for how he handled it.”