Early but si good new m Osula
IT is extremely early days... but the initial signs are positive when it comes to Newcastle United new boy William Osula.
The 21-year-old, drafted in from Sheffield United last week, made his eagerly awaited Magpies debut on Saturday afternoon, featuring from the outset as Newcastle beat French side Brest 1-0 in the Sela Cup. Osula, a central striker who can play out wide, was indeed used through the middle, flanked by Miguel Almiron and Harvey Barnes to either side of him from the start.
With Callum Wilson out for a few more weeks, Osula is expected to play second fiddle to Alexander Isak as Premier League football returns in the coming days. But is the raw, young talent ready for such responsibility? Here’s what we saw from Osula during his first appearance in black and white.
Over 33,000 Newcastle fans piled into St James’ Park on Saturday – and many more likely tuned into the final pre-season friendly of the summer online – and it certainly did not take Osula long to show those watching just what he is all about.
With just two minutes on the clock, young midfielder Alfie Harrison switched the ball wide to Miguel Almiron around 45 yards out from goal. Osula, quick as a flash, was off and running, expecting a ball through the lines from his new Paraguayan team-mate.
Almiron held up his end of the bargain as Osula sprinted beyond Brest’s left-sided centre-back and full-back partnership before lashing a shot goalwards. Standing at 6ft 4in and weighing over 80kg, you don’t expect Newcastle’s newest recruit to possess too much pace – but it is clear Osula has an impressive turn of foot.
Twenty minutes later, Osula burst in behind again. This time his shot made its way beyond Brest goalkeeper Marco Bizot and into the back of the net. Newcastle’s attacker wheeled away towards the Leazes End in celebration but failed to notice the linesman’s flag was held aloft.
When Barnes picked the ball up on the halfway line, he looked up to see Osula peeling in behind and wanting it played over the top. The winger’s lofted pass was inch-perfect and Osula raced onto it, away from any Brest defenders, opened up his body and calmly rolled the ball home from a difficult angle. A fantastic finish.
There was no VAR in use at St James’ Park – and very limited replays of the incident – but it was certainly a close call to deny Osula his first goal in black and white. Offside or not, the move and finish will fill Newcastle supporters with encouragement after a rather modest goal return for the youngster at his previous clubs. The run in behind smacked of a move Isak has made countless times.
Five minutes before the interval, with Newcastle on the back foot, Osula found himself dropping deeper to come and collect the ball. Howe was quick to instruct the striker against that tactic, instead urging him to stay high up the pitch, on the shoulder of the defender. All in all, the first-half proved a good insight into why Newcastle made a move for the Sheffield United ace: He’s quick, powerful and looks like he will fit into Howe’s system. The second period was a quieter one – both for the player and his team-mates – as the third and final Sela Cup tie turned into a typicallylacklustre friendly affair.
Midway through the half, the new man picked the ball up on the right after running into the channel. Facing up to his man, he quickly tried to knock the ball past him before firing a shot at goal. The effort was wellblocked by the opposite number given Osula just didn’t quite have the pace to fully get beyond him.
Again, it was a move not too dissimilar to the type of play we see from Isak week in, week out.
Osula, who missed two matches for Sheffield United in recent weeks with concussion, was replaced in the 69th minute to a great applause. As first impressions go, it was a pleasing debut. There is certainly some work to be done, but you suspect with a bit of Howe magic and some senior game time this term, Newcastle have signed a player who can vastly improve.
“He did really well when you consider when he joined us he hadn’t trained for seven or eight days with a concussion,” Howe said. “We knew playing today he wasn’t at his peak physical condition.
“I thought he showed his qualities today and what he’s going to bring to the team, his pace, strength and took his goal really well – he was unlucky with the marginal offside. I think he’ll be really pleased with his efforts.”
I thought he showed his qualities and what he’s going to bring to the team, his pace, strength... Eddie Howe