William Osula insists he has never been interested in leaving Newcastle United, and he says he can only conjure up wonder goals like his strike against Manchester United if he has a manager who trusts him to do so.
Remarkably, Osula has had just eight Premier League starts in two years on Tyneside, after it took a dramatic slide down the table and the slow and painful exit of Anthony Gordon for the 23-year-old Dane to get his chance in a black and white shirt. Through it all, Osula kept working and trying to impress head coach Eddie Howe and his coaching staff, but it was only in the final six games of his second season that the former Sheffield United star truly got a decent opportunity to shine.
Staying Put Despite Transfer Interest
Even when Osula was effectively in the transfer departure lounge 12 months ago, he admits his heart was never in it as Howe tried to reshape the squad in the last knockings of the transfer window, with a move to Bayer Leverkusen lined up. But when the German side refused an obligation to buy at £21 million, Osula stayed put, and even after a goal against Liverpool in the 3-2 defeat at St James' Park, he was awarded just one more Premier League start between August and April, albeit with a winter ankle injury sandwiched in the middle.
With Eintracht Frankfurt also linked with Osula last January, he indicated his head was never turned. Osula told Chronicle Live exclusively: "I have always been focused on where I am, in Newcastle, I'm here, and your focus has to remain here. That's how it will continue to be for me."
When asked about that potential move to Leverkusen, who Newcastle face in the Visit Malta Weekender on Saturday, Osula said: "That was last year . . . I was at Newcastle then, I'm at Newcastle now, this is where my focus remains."
Earning Trust and Delivering
Osula stated there was no animosity with Howe, just gratitude, but admitted he felt he had to earn his trust, and eventually it paid off with five goals in the last seven games and an end-of-season tally of 10 in all competitions. Osula said: "You have to do that (earn trust), and then when you get the opportunity, you have to take it, I tried to do that every single game. You look to provide and do your best on the pitch. Thankfully, he (Eddie Howe) continued to put his trust in me throughout the end of the season."
It was that strike against Manchester United in March that ended up being replayed on TV and online, a goal that Osula admits he never "scrolls past". That night, he dropped deep to lay a ball into the path of Trippier, who pinged a fine pass forward, and then the rest proved to be St James' Park theatre. The Dane made a lung-busting run from his own half to keep the ball in play before taking four touches and making two stepovers to ease past Harry Maguire and sweep it past the keeper. Quite rightly it won the Premier League's Guinness Goal of the Month.
When asked if it is about getting the licence to reproduce those moments under new boss Matthias Jaissle, the striker said: "As long as I'm on the pitch, I feel like, the more you play the more you can show. This is how it is yeah? If it comes on my phone [the goal] I don't scroll past it! But any time I watch it back, I get the feelings back, the emotions of when the ball went into the back of the net. Sometimes, I relive it, but I was grateful for that."
"If people say it is one of the best moments of recent times, I definitely appreciate it. I think of the scenario of the game, we had 10 men, last minute and it's Man United. When you break all that down, it's nice to know people like it."
A New Era at St James' Park
It's been a huge summer of change at St James' Park. A new manager after Howe was replaced by Jaissle; a new transfer policy of young players coming into the club; and many established stars leaving. With Alexander Isak, Callum Wilson and Anthony Gordon no longer in Osula's path, the summer has started with him taking the Barcelona man's old number.
When asked if that gives him another confidence boost, Osula was simple and clear with his answer, replying: "Absolutely. We're all excited, we have a new manager and we are learning a new style and the way he wants to play. So everybody is getting ready for the season starting next week. It has been so good so far, learning his playing styles and already learned different ways, in possession and out of possession, how he likes his play. It has been good to learn what he wants tactically and his ways."
"It is a new era. There is a new manager so something is new, isn't it? We just want to get ready for the season, do well and perform. Everybody is gelling well and bonding well together. all the new players too, so it is good."
The word that has cascaded down from the boardroom to the dressing room this summer has been "change", and while Jaissle's arrival is exciting, the departure of trophy-winning boss Howe is still a bit raw. It was something that fans or the dressing room didn't expect, not least after two pre-season friendly matches.
Painting the picture of Howe's exit, Osula said: "Everybody spoke to him individually. It is up to them to speak on that if they want to. I have spoken with him and texted him. I appreciate what he's done, at Newcastle, he's done great stuff."
Speaking on whether there was also emotion for a dressing room that not only lost Gordon, Sandro Tonali, Kieran Trippier, Bruno Guimaraes and ultimately its leader Howe, the Denmark star said: "Yeah (sad), it is something I did not expect, but I have spoken to them, I wish them all the best for the future. I show my gratitude for what they have done for me and for helping me in what I have done so far. Now we have a new manager, and we look forward to working with him. I want to do well for him and play well under him."
Part of Howe's legacy may prove to be giving Osula his chance on Tyneside as a challenging season ground to a halt. For the Dane, it was bittersweet as the loss of the man who signed him coincided with him grasping his big chance with a late glut of goals.
Osula said: "It was a nice feeling - I was waiting for my chance at Newcastle. I was happy to be given my opportunity to play and show what I can do. Now I want to continue doing that at this club. I remain confident I can, I know what I can do on the pitch, it is just about continuing to do that."
Osula will be leading the line for Newcastle against Leverkusen on Saturday (3pm) with tickets now on general sale.
