It has been a whirlwind first week for Ross Wilson : meetings, introductions and more handshakes than feels humanly possible.

It does not surprise those who have worked alongside him that he’s made a positive first impression. Newcastle United’s new director of football is a natural diplomat and “perfect for that job”, according to one former colleague.

Wilson has managed to tread a careful path at Evangelos Marinakis’ volatile Nottingham Forest and kept his cool amid criticism at Rangers, so is said to be undaunted by the task ahead of him at St James’ Park.

And that sounds about right. For all that Newcastle face some major obstacles to establish themselves as a regular fixture in English football’s elite, Wilson is joining at a very good time in the PIF project.

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