The start of a new Premier League season is always filled with hope, but for Newcastle United, the opening weeks have been more about frustration than fireworks.
The team has found it difficult to score goals, which has led to a series of draws that feel like missed opportunities. In the first match against Aston Villa, Newcastle looked like the better team for large parts of the game but just couldn’t find the back of the net.
Similar stories played out against Leeds and Bournemouth, where the team controlled possession but lacked a sharp edge in the final third.
The manager, Eddie Howe, even tried a new defensive formation against Bournemouth, but it seemed to make the team less dangerous going forward.
A look at the statistics reveals the core of the problem. The team’s expected goals figure, which measures the quality of scoring chances, is one of the lowest in the league so far.
This means Newcastle simply aren’t creating enough clear opportunities to score. A midweek cup win against lower-league side Bradford City was a welcome boost, but the real test comes now, with a Champions League game and a tough match against Arsenal on the horizon.
The big question on everyone’s mind is how the manager can get the attack firing. The answer might depend on which striker he chooses to lead the line.
This summer, Newcastle made a major statement by signing German striker Nick Woltemade for a club-record fee.
He was a player in high demand, with European giants like Bayern Munich also trying to sign him. On paper, he looks like the perfect modern striker. He is extremely tall, which makes him a threat in the air, but he also has the technical skill to play with the ball at his feet.
He scored goals in the German Bundesliga and has already played for the German national team. He even started his Newcastle career perfectly by scoring a goal on his debut.
However, since that debut, it has become clear that Woltemade needs time to adapt. The Premier League is famously faster and more physical than any other league in the world.
The game never stops, and defenders give you no time to think. While Woltemade has shown flashes of his quality, he often looks like he is still getting used to the pace and intensity.
His style of play is more about linking up with other players and helping the team move forward, rather than just being a pure goal-scorer.
This is a valuable skill, but for a record signing, fans and critics will inevitably judge him on goals. Right now, patience is required, but with the team needing results, the manager might not be able to wait for a long adaptation period.
This is where another striker, William Osula, comes into the picture. His story is quite different. He was signed for a much lower fee and was even close to leaving the club on transfer deadline day.
But after another new striker got injured, the decision was made to keep him, and it now looks like a very smart move. While Woltemade is the famous name, Osula might be the player who offers what Newcastle needs right now: directness, hunger, and a clinical finish.
His performance in the cup against Bradford City was a perfect example. He wasn’t just on the pitch; he dominated it.
He scored two goals and was a constant menace to the opposition defense. The stats from that game show a striker full of confidence and energy.
The table below highlights William Osula’s key contributions in the Carabao Cup match against Bradford City:
| Performance Metric | Statistic |
|---|---|
| Match Rating | 8.2 |
| Goals Scored | 2 |
| Shots on Target | 4 |
| Successful Dribbles | 2 out of 3 |
| Total Touches | 39 |
| Accurate Passes | 15 out of 16 |
| Ground Duels Won | 5 out of 11 |
This was more than just a good game against a weaker opponent. It was a display of the attributes Newcastle has been missing. Osula pressed the defenders relentlessly, made smart runs behind the defensive line, and took his chances when they came.
He plays with an instinct that can’t be taught. For a team struggling to score, a striker who can turn a half-chance into a goal is incredibly valuable.
So, what should the manager do? It’s not necessarily about choosing one striker and forgetting about the other.
In the long term, there is potential for a fascinating partnership. Imagine Woltemade using his height and skill to hold up the ball and bring others into play, with Osula using his speed and movement to run off him.
This could give Newcastle a very dynamic and unpredictable attack. But for the immediate future, with important games coming thick and fast, Eddie Howe has a big decision to make.
Does he stick with the high-profile signing who is still finding his feet, or does he turn to the hungry, in-form striker who seems to offer a more direct route to goal? Unleashing William Osula might just be the spark that Newcastle needs to turn their promising performances into much-needed victories.
