Callum Wilson was being written off as a Newcastle player six weeks ago. He read those comments, too. Now, he has just outscored Erling Haaland in the Premier League through April and is England's most in-form striker.
Eight goals in a month — remarkable, given he made just two starts — has moved the 31-year-old to the top of his club's scoring charts for the first time since the early part of the season.
He did enough then to win a place at the World Cup but returned looking spent. Many suspected his best days could be behind him, and that was committed to print.