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Newcastle United signing Will Osula was a big story in Denmark.
The raw young striker making the August move from Sheffield United in a £15m deal.
Will Osula has remained on the bench once the competitive stuff started, as Eddie Howe eases him in gently and works with him on the training ground, including him in the matchday squads for the experience and in case of any emergency that may force the Head Coach’s hand.
Newcastle United fans did get a glimpse of the raw young striker’s potential in pre-season.
Will Osula looked decent as he led the line against Brest and scored a class ‘goal’ in the 1-0 win, only for a very dubious linesman’s call for offside to rule it out.
Eddie Howe saying after that St James’ Park friendly win:
“I loved the goal… the pace, the run, the finish.
“He didn’t know he was offside and I’m still not sure he was.
“He hadn’t trained a great deal because he had concussion, so there was some rustiness.
“You can see why we brought him to the club.”
Currently away on international duty with the Denmark Under 21s squad, the Danish media were keen to quiz Will Osula on his move to Tyneside. The striker making clear (see below) just how happy he is with the move and the progress he is looking to make, training and eventually playing alongside some quality players, with Eddie Howe overseeing his development.
Will Osula got his first competitive action on Friday, since the move to Newcastle United, then it only took him 16 minutes to get on the scoresheet.
The NUFC striker putting the Denmark Under 21s ahead against their Iceland counterparts, though the home side eventually turned it around and won 4-2. However, always great for strikers to score goals, so Will Osula will have been done no harm in terms of confidence, getting this first striker since signing for NUFC. He and his international teammates have Czech Republic U21s on Tuesday.
Elsewhere at Under 21 level, Newcastle’s Lewis Hall came off the bench for the final 21 minutes of a drab England goalless draw away to Northern Ireland.
While in Istanbul, a great result for the Republic of Ireland U21s, winning 1-0 with an 84th minute goal. No sign though of Newcastle’s Alex Murphy, neither in the starting eleven or amongst the subs, for unknown reasons.
Will Osula speaking to Ekstra Bladet about signing for Newcastle United – 4 September 2024:
“It actually happened very quickly.
“I think there were a lot of rumours about me going to Newcastle but I didn’t look into it. I was very focused on the fact that the season in Sheffield should start soon.
“All of a sudden Sheffield [United] came and told me that Newcastle wanted to sign me and that they would accept the offer.
“Then my agent called me and then it just happened quickly over two or three days, when I was in Newcastle and signed the contract.
“When they told me [about Newcastle United’s interest] I was a bit in shock, but I was just so happy.
“I was like, Wow, it’s Newcastle now.
“I had almost prepared myself for the season. I was ready and then Newcastle came quickly overnight. It was something I was shocked and happy about.
“It (signing for Newcastle United) is something that I am very proud of.
“Newcastle is a huge club and I am very happy to have made the switch to Newcastle from Sheffield United. So I’m looking forward to seeing what will happen in the future.
“There are already huge stars [at Newcastle United], so I get there and have to learn their style and how they play.
“I just have to come in and learn a lot of things from the coaches and players. I just have to become a better player and then hopefully my time will come when I can play a lot in the future.
“Newcastle is a huge club. Last season they played in the Champions League and it is not easy when you play in the Premier League, where there are many good teams.
“When you hear Newcastle, it’s a huge chance and a huge club. It is something that I am happy to be a part of, I take it as it comes.
“I’m just happy to be a part of Newcastle, so my time will come.”
This is the September 2024 international schedule for Newcastle United players:
Thursday 5 September
Azerbaijan 1 Sweden 3
Alexander Isak on fire in this Nations League match. Scoring the first two goals and then bizarrely denied his hat-trick.
Alexander Isak winning the penalty but instead of the Newcastle United striker taking the spot-kick to finish off a great personal match, it was Gyokeres who took the 80th minute spot-kick to put Sweden 3-0 up. The home side getting a consolation goal late on.
Estonia 0 Slovakia 1
Martin Dubravka getting a morale boosting clean sheet as the Newcastle United number two keeper helped his country to an opening Nations League group win, the winner coming on 70 minutes.
Friday 6 September
France 1 Italy 3
A stunning international comeback for Sandro Tonali.
France taking the lead after only 12 seconds but the Newcastle United midfielder superb, as he and his international teammates came back and blew the home side away in Paris. A very much deserved win for Italy and this Nations League victory set in motion with a stunning equaliser on 30 minutes, a sublime flick by Sandro Tonali followed by an arguably even better volley from Dimarco.
Uruguay 0 Paraguay 0
A great result for Miguel Almiron and his teammates in this World Cup group qualifier against the team that is second top. Paraguay restricting Uruguay to just one effort on target and Miggy playing 82 minutes before becoming one of a number of players subbed off late, as the visitors ran the clock down.
Brazil 1 Equador 0
A massive result for Bruno Guimaraes and his Brazil teammates, after they had lost their last three World Cup group qualifiers.
Ecuador had lost only one of their last five group qualifiers and were a tough nut to crack in a very dour defensive contest. Only five efforts on target between the two teams and Brazil winning thanks to a shot by Rodrygo on 29 minutes that deflected past the visiting keeper and went in off the post.
A good shift from Bruno in his more defensive midfield role than we see for Newcastle United, good to see the Brazil boss looking after him, as Bruno was one of a couple of players taken off after 62 minutes, leaving their teammates to see out this dour victory.
Northern Ireland U21s 0 England U21s 0
A drab game in Ballymena ended goalless, Newcastle United’s Lewis Hall coming on in the 69th minute of this U21 Euros group qualifier.
Turkey U21s 0 Republic of Ireland U21s 1
A really good result for the Republic of Ireland in this U21 Euros group qualifier, winning with an 84th minute goal. Newcastle’s Alex Murphy not in the matchday squad though, for unknown reasons.
Iceland U21s 4 Denmark U21s 2
It only took Will Osula 16 minutes to open the scoring in this U21s Euros group qualifier, however, the home side bouncing back to win 4-2 in the end.
Saturday 7 September
Republic of Ireland v England (Nick Pope, Tino Livramento, Anthony Gordon) Nations League
Sunday 8 September
Sweden v Estonia (Alexander Isak) Nations League
Slovakia v Azerbaijan (Martin Dubravka) Nations League
Monday 9 September
Israel v Italy (Sandro Tonali) Nations League
England U21s v Austria U21s (Lewis Hall) U21 Euros group qualifier
Tuesday 10 September
England v Finland (Nick Pope, Tino Livramento, Anthony Gordon) Nations League
Paraguay v Brazil (Bruno Guimaraes, Miguel Almiron) World Cup group qualifier (UK time, kick-off early hours of Wednesday)
Denmark U21s v Czech Republic U21s (Will Osula) U21s Euros group qualifier
Republic of Ireland U21s v Latvia U21s (Alex Murphy) U21 Euros group qualifier

 
