Eddie Howe’s message to Will Osula ahead of Newcastle United v Man Utd heroics
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Newcastle United latest news: Will Osula was Newcastle United’s hero as they beat Manchester United 2-1 at St James’ Park.
Will Osula has revealed what Eddie Howe told him just moments before he scored a stunning winning goal for Newcastle United as they triumphed 2-1 over Manchester United at St James’ Park.
The Magpies had played a full half of football with a man less than their visitors after Jacob Ramsey’s red card on the stroke of half-time. Their heroic efforts, though, ensured that when Osula picked up the ball following a defence splitting pass from Kieran Trippier, that they still had a chance of victory.
That chance was emphatically taken by Osula who, after keeping the ball in play at top speed, chopped onto his left foot to curl home an effort beyond a stranded Senne Lammens to send St James’ Park into ecstasy. Osula had been introduced to the game as a substitute just moments prior to that goal, with Howe giving him the nod over both Yoane Wissa and Sean Neave who were unused substitutes.
Will Osula reveals Eddie Howe message
Speaking post-match, Osula revealed what he was told by his head coach before he entered the pitch to replace Anthony Gordon, the man who scored Newcastle United’s first of the night from the penalty spot: “The message was to come in and show what I can do, have an impact and try and make us win the game. Glory to God, that happened.”
On what was going through his head as he latched onto Trippier’s pass before slamming the ball home, Osula added: “What's going through my head first of all is to keep the ball in, I felt like it was nearly going out of play. Then, as I kept the ball in, it was just to be direct, come in and try and change the game. When I see a one-on-one situation I go and take it and I’m happy with the end product too.
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“Yeah, absolutely. When you're down to 10 men it's not easy to defend the goal and obviously you don't have as many attacking players.
You've got to protect the goal. Moments like this are top for the whole of Newcastle because they are in favour of one man. So us winning the game is an amazing feeling.”
That was just Osula’s second Premier League goal of the season, with his first coming against Liverpool back in August. On that day, Osula was again introduced to the game late on with Newcastle United needing a goal, despite being down to ten men.
There is no rest for Newcastle United following that dramatic win over the Red Devils as their hectic fixture schedule continues to rumble on. Howe’s side welcome Manchester City to St James’ Park for the third time this season on Saturday for an FA Cup Fifth Round clash (8pm kick-off).
They then host Barcelona in the first-leg of their Champions League Round of 16 meeting on Tuesday night (8pm kick-off), with the return leg at the Spotify Camp Nou to be played eight days later. In between those matches, Newcastle make the trip to Stamford Bridge to take on Liam Rosenior’s Chelsea in the Premier League.