Newcastle United 2-0 Athletic Club: Joe Buck reaction
Newcastle United were dealt an injury blow ahead of kick-off in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
Dan Burn and Joelinton scored headers in either half to see The Magpies climb to sixth in the Champions League group phase table with nine points out of a possible 12 and four games left to play.
But Newcastle were dealt a blow moments before kick-off as substitute striker William Osula was forced to withdraw from the matchday squad due to injury.
NUFC striker injury blow confirmed
Osula arrived at St James’ Park as planned and was named among the substitutes when the team news was announced at 6:45pm on Wednesday evening.
But shortly after, Newcastle confirmed that the 22-year-old had been removed from the matchday squad due to a persisting ankle problem.
Ahead of the match, Newcastle announced: “Will Osula will no longer be on the bench this evening due to discomfort in his ankle. He will be assessed further in the coming days. Hope to see you back soon, Will.”
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Osula didn’t emerge for the pre-match warm-ups but was still spotted celebrating the victory in the dressing room after the game.
The Danish striker has started just two games for Newcastle so far this season but has contributed three goals and an assist in all competitions.
Osula has been playing through the pain barrier in recent matches with head coach Eddie Howe previously stating that the club were managing an ongoing ankle problem for the player.
Following the win over Fulham last month, Howe said: “The ankle injury that he's got is slightly curtailing that because I don't want to make that problem worse.
“I want him to feel really good when he comes on the pitch. So, we're sort of managing that. Fundamentally, it's his attitude. He wants to be here, he wants to play, and he's very committed.”
Eddie Howe explains why William Osula dropped out v Athletic Club
Howe had a conversation with Osula ahead of the game in which it was agreed that the player could not be risked for the match, even as a substitute.
“We’ve just been in discussions with him at length about his ankle in the last few days,” Howe told The Gazette. “[About] whether he’s fit enough to perform to the level we need and that he’s comfortable with.
“After a discussion, we felt it was best to withdraw him and try to get his ankle 100% right.”
Osula will be assessed ahead of Sunday’s trip to Brentford (2pm kick-off), though the club could decide to rest the forward in order to give him an extra two weeks to recover and allow his ankle to heal.
In addition to Osula, Newcastle’s £55million deadline day signing Yoane Wissa is a major doubt for Sunday’s trip to his former club Brentford due to a knee injury.
It risks leaving Nick Woltemade as The Magpies’ only available striker this weekend.
Osula joined Newcastle from Sheffield United in 2024 for £10million but has been limited to just five starts for the club since his arrival. He came close to leaving the club to join Eintracht Frankfurt on deadline day before a late U-turn.
While transfer interest remains in the forward ahead of the January window, the plan, as things stand, is for Osula to remain on Tyneside and bolster Howe’s attacking options.
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