What Newcastle insiders are now saying about William Osula this season

Add as preferred source on Google

Newcastle United parted with a considerable fee to sign William Osula from Sheffield United this summer, a player who has only scored eight goals in his senior career to date.

21-year-old Osula made 21 appearances for Sheffield United in the Premier League, enough evidence for Newcastle to make their move this summer.

Osula is yet to score at the top level, but the club’s decision-makers must be convinced that there’s still a lot more to come.

That being said, it was noteworthy that Eddie Howe decided not to turn to Osula against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday when Alexander Isak needed to come off.

The young striker was the obvious replacement on the bench, but Howe chose to introduce Harvey Barnes instead, in turn playing Anthony Gordon as a striker.

Newcastle’s hierarchy see William Osula as a ‘project player’ right now

Responding to fans during a Q&A session on The Athletic, journalist Chris Waugh answered a question about Osula – asking if he’d be integrated into similar fashion to Lewis Hall last season.

The journalist didn’t specifically mention Hall, but did confirm that Osula isn’t quite are the forefront of Howe’s first team plans right now.

READ MORE: Shaka Hislop predicts whether Newcastle will finish in the top four in the Premier League this season

Waugh responded: “Howe’s decision to move Anthony Gordon into a more central position once he was forced to withdraw Alexander Isak due to injury during the 2-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers was informative of where he believes Osula is at in his development.

“The 21-year-old was signed from Sheffield United in the summer as very much a ‘project player’ — a term that has been used inside the club more generally when discussing prospects for the future — and Newcastle believe he has the characteristics to be a very good Premier League player.

“He is 6ft 4in (193cm), pacy and able to play across the front line.”

Callum Wilson injured until October

Of course, with news that Howe isn’t quite ready to hand Osula serious minutes, it’s worrying to learn that Callum Wilson could out be out until the October international break at least.

Waugh confirmed the news in the same Q&A, particularly worrying news given that Isak did suffer a facial injury against Wolves.

Newcastle will hope that Isak is ready to play for their upcoming away trip to Fulham, but if he’s not, perhaps Howe will turn to Gordon centrally again.

That being said, one pundit was furious with Joe Willock during the win over Wolves on Sunday – a player Howe will nonetheless be delighted to have back in his team.

Perhaps Willock could even play as a false nine if the situation required it, a midfielder who definitely has an eye for a goal.