Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe remains hopeful William Osula and Lewis Miley can develop into key players for the club.
Osula and Miley both came off the bench for Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, which underlined the lack of depth available to Howe.
Newcastle lost 1-0 to Arsenal to complicate matters in the Champions League race. Indeed, Howe’s side now need to win their final Premier League game of the season to confirm a place in the top five.
Howe was told his selection gamble did not work against Arsenal but, to his credit, the Newcastle United manager did not exactly have much choice when he brought the young players on. Alexander Isak was injured, along with Joelinton and Kieran Trippier.
Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images
Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images
Eddie Howe makes Lewis Miley and William Osula prediction at Newcastle United
It was put to Howe that the fact he had to turn to two relatively untested players may have shown just how far Newcastle are behind their rivals in terms of squad depth. Miley, Osula and defender Emil Krafth replaced Jacob Murphy, Callum Wilson and Sven Botman in the second half.
He admitted that the Newcastle United squad was “light” but stressed both Osula and Miley would develop into “good players” for the club.
“The players that you [the journalist] mentioned are good players but yeah they are developing and forging their careers in the Premier League,” he said.
“I think they will be good players, I thought they did well when they came on today. It’s no slight on them but we’ve lost a bit of firepower.”
MORE NEWCASTLE STORIES
William Osula must start over Callum Wilson for Newcastle United
If Isak cannot make the Everton game due to the thigh injury that ruled him out of the Arsenal defeat, it would feel a major call to start Wilson over Osula.
Wilson, of course, would bring much more experience to the ranks but hasn’t scored a Premier League goal all season. Gary Neville said Wilson would be “disappointed” with his performance against Arsenal, and it’s difficult to disagree.
Newcastle insiders are excited about Osula’s potential and he would surely offer at least more energy than the former England international if and when called upon.
Hopefully, Isak can start the final game of the season. If he can’t, then Howe needs to make a major call.