He is big, quick and strong and there is just that refinement – Eddie Howe assessment | OneFootball

For young players, often the biggest challenge is getting the opportunities, so is this going be the big chance for Will Osula.

With the PSR situation limiting transfer market activity, Newcastle United paid £10m (plus £5m potential future add-ons) for a raw young striker who had only started nine Premier League matches.

Will Osula wasn’t most fans’ idea of a new striker signing to back up Isak and Wilson.

Eddie Howe though said that a big factor in the decision, was the raw talent Jason Tindall had seen when Will Osula was a teenager, Tindall working as a coach at Sheffield United at the time.

Now with Callum Wilson set to miss at least the next eight weeks with his latest injury, this busy upcoming schedule looks very likely to hand Will Osula some decent minutes on the pitch.

So far, only eight Premier League minutes for Newcastle United in four very brief sub appearances. Though he started against AFC Wimbledon in the cup, before getting half an hour against Chelsea in the same competition, impressing fans in that sub appearance, unlucky not to get his first goal as Osula’s effort from outside the box struck the post.

Will Osula had a tough 2023/24 season when getting on the pitch for a woeful Sheffield United, he has scored goals in cup competitions but drew a blank in his nine Premier League starts and some sub appearances. Not a massive surprise as opportunities to attack were so limited, the Blades spending most of every match defending. Sheffield United only won three PL matches all season and conceded a horrendous 104 goals, 19 more than the next highest.

Eddie Howe asked about his striker options on Friday, in light of Callum Wilson’s new/latest injury – 13 December 2024:

“Callum’s injury is a blow in terms of our strength in depth.

“Alex [Isak] is fit and scoring goals and we are doing a lot of work with Will Osula behind the scenes.

“I have no hesitation in playing him as well.

“I think it is a huge jump for him [Will Osula], in every way.

“I have been really, really impressed by him.

“His attitude to learning is top and he works with a variety of coaches after training to improve.

“You don’t suddenly land and adjust and become a Premier League striker [but] he is readier than he has ever been and now with Callum out, he has to step up.

“He is big, quick and strong and there is just that refinement.

“The only thing that can bring that is time.”

Newcastle United upcoming matches:

Saturday 14 December – Newcastle v Leicester (3pm)

Wednesday 18 December – Newcastle v Brentford (7.45pm) Sky Sports+ (Carabao Cup)

Saturday 21 December – Ipswich v Newcastle (3pm)

Thursday 26 December – Newcastle v Villa (3pm) Amazon

Monday 30 December – Man U v Newcastle (8pm) Sky Sports

Saturday 4 January – Tottenham v Newcastle (12.30pm) TNT Sports

Sunday 12 January – Newcastle v Bromley (3pm) BBC iPlayer (FA Cup)

Wednesday 15 January – Newcastle v Wolves (7.30pm) TNT Sports

Saturday 18 January – Newcastle v Bournemouth (12.30pm) TNT Sports

Saturday 25 January – Southampton v Newcastle (3pm)

Saturday 1 February – Newcastle v Fulham (3pm)