Latest: Newcastle United 2 West Ham United 0 | OneFootball

The German forward volleyed home Harvey Barnes' cross just before the 15-minute mark to give the hosts the lead at St. James' Park.

And just three minutes later, Osula doubled the advantage with an unerring low finish after some fine build-up play from United.

Kieran Trippier, playing his last home game for the Magpies, started along with Jacob Ramsey and Harvey Barnes as Eddie Howe made three changes from the side that drew 1-1 at Nottingham Forest last weekend.

In need of a win to boost their hopes of avoiding relegation, the Hammers started with urgency but the persistent Osula was a constant thorn in their side early on. The Danish frontman first forced an error from Konstantinos Mavropanos before a neat run a few minutes later brought a shot which was charged down.

And on 14 minutes, Barnes beat Jean-Clair Todibo to a loose ball on the right and delivered a fine cutback for Woltemade, who duly dispatched his 11th goal of his debut campaign on Tyneside.

After a swift, slick move involving Barnes, Bruno Guimarães and Jacob Ramsey, the latter threaded a perfect first-time through ball for Osula and the former Sheffield United frontman finished low through the legs of goalkeeper Mads Hermansen to make it two.

The visitors went close to reducing the deficit just before the half-hour, though, and it took two smart stops from Nick Pope to keep them out. Crysencio Summerville skipped to the byline and his cross found Taty Castellanos - sent on in place of Todibo just after Osula's strike - but Pope did superbly to repel his finish. The rebound eventually fell to El-Hadji Malick Diouf, who forced Pope to parry his powerful effort across the face of goal.

Newcastle United: Nick Pope, Kieran Trippier, Lewis Hall, Sven Botman, Sandro Tonali, Harvey Barnes, Malick Thiaw, Will Osula, Nick Woltemade, Bruno Guimarães (c), Jacob Ramsey

Subs not used: Aaron Ramsdale, Yoane Wissa, Anthony Gordon, Anthony Elanga, Jacob Murphy, Joe Willock, Dan Burn, Alex Murphy, Sean Neave