Newcastle United star Callum Wilson admits being terrified of ‘fiery’ Hearts legend as Coventry City youngster

Callum Wilson began his career at Coventry City and feared working under Hearts legend Steven Pressley.

Newcastle United striker Callum Wilson has recalled his fear when playing under Hearts legend Steven Pressley as a youngster.

Now a prolific scorer for the Premier League side, the striker came through the ranks at Coventry while Pressley was managing the first team.

Speaking on the BBC Sounds Footballers' Football Podcast, Wilson and co-host West Ham United star Michail Antonio were asked to pick the scariest bosses they've played under after 76-year-old Roy Hodgson's touchline clash with Sheffield United star Max Lowe.

Wilson said: "Eddie [Howe] is good and he's hard in his own way and in his own right but probably the toughest manager in terms of giving me a grilling, where I wasn't happy with it but there's not a lot I could do. I was young at the time, I was at Coventry, it was Steven Pressley. He was a Scotsman, fiery, he'd be on you straight away.

“I had Chris Coleman when I was coming up, I didn't really experience him too much as my personal manager but he was a unit, one of those guys you wouldn't mess with or back chat to. Chris Coleman was a unit. I was young at the time, he was a big manager, deep voice. He was a centre-half in his day, so he's got a little bit, one of those managers you thought I wouldn't mess with him.

“Ultimately, he’s [Coleman] the guy who gave me my first professional contract in football so always grateful for that. I always stayed on the right side of him being a youngster. But Steven Pressley was my first experience of a grilling from a manager.”

Steven Pressley oversaw a rocky period at Coventry City (Image: Getty Images)

Pressley, who made 297 appearances for Hearts between 1998 and 2006, went on to manage sides including Fleetwood Town, Carlisle United and Falkirk as well as the Coventry City role.

Pressley's time at Coventry City was marred by the club's financial woes but the manager was praised for managing to maintain League One status despite a 10-point reduction and having to play home fixtures 34 miles away in Northampton.