Will Osula's Spurs & Arsenal 'snub' explained as Newcastle United man in line for rare start

The Magpies paid an initial £10million, which could rise to £15m in add-ons, to sign the 21-year-old from Championship side Sheffield United in the summer. He has featured in every matchday squad this campaign, fetching a total of nine appearances.

Signed as a back-up and an understudy to both Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson, the loss of the latter to injury this season had pointed to increased game time for Osula, not least over the festive period when, from December 14 to January 7, United played seven times in 25 days.

Osula has been an unused substitute in four of those matches, including back-to-back wins against Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal this week when Isak was brought off.

Explaining he left Osula on the bench, Eddie Howe told NewcastleWorld: “Will is continuing to develop. It's been difficult the last few games because I've had to make decisions in running what to do in a couple of situations.

“Against Tottenham, we were winning and I decided to put a midfielder in Alex's position when Alex was fatigued and had to come off. That's because we were protecting the lead and I wanted someone with real experience who could manage the game for us.

“And it was very similar the other night against Arsenal where we're in a different phase of the game and I felt we needed real experience to help us navigate those last few minutes on the pitch.

“But Will is, on the other side, developing really well and if we were needing a goal, the decision would have been very different.”

Howe and his coaches have been working intently with Osula behind the scenes. Despite making 21 Premier League appearances for relegated Sheffield United last year, Howe previously used the word “refinement” when discussing the striker’s raw qualities.

Time on the training pitch has benefitted Osula and he is expected to get an opportunity to show that against Bromley on Sunday. The Denmark youth international’s last and only start was the 1-0 win over AFC Wimbledon in the Carabao Cup in October.

“I have to say in training, we've had a few 11 v 11 games, he's looked very sharp and scored goals. If he is involved this weekend then I'd expect him to play well,” said Howe. “Yeah, we could [see him start]. As I say, all options are available to me. I've got to make the right decision.