Eddie Howe praises William Osula’s development at Newcastle United

The latest North East sport headlines, from Daniel Wales,

Transcript

00:00Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe has praised the development of young forward William Asula,

00:06especially after he was nearly moved on from Newcastle towards the end of the transfer window

00:10and at present is deputising for the injured Johan Wisser.

00:18Yeah, he's progressing really well.

00:20Yeah, it was a slightly turbulent transfer into the transfer window for him.

00:25But he took his goals really well today.

00:26I think he's been slowly but surely, I think it's the same with every player,

00:30slowly but surely, especially the younger ones, improving his game.

00:33And I think you can see today it wasn't just the goals, it was link play, hold up play,

00:37depressing understanding, all the things that when you're at the top of the pitch

00:41are fundamental to the team's performance he has to deliver.

00:44And I thought he delivered them all well.

00:46And then he's got the attributes to play wide as well.

00:48And it's pleasing to see him go into that position and then score.

00:51But yeah, he's clearly, it depends on my team selection.

00:53Obviously, I think he's done himself no harm today.

00:56That will do him the world of good.

00:59Do him the world of good on so many different levels

01:01because as a goalscorer, a striker, you need to have that feeling.

01:05And today was an opportunity for him to grab and he did.

01:08That would be the same for any player.

01:09So yeah, he puts himself very much in the forefront of my thoughts.

01:12And Sunderland head coach Regis Labris has said that young midfielder Chris Rigg

01:17can have a big impact in Sunderland's side in the Premier League,

01:21especially as he will get more minutes now because Habib Diara is injured.

01:25He played really well last season in the Championship and showed his qualities,

01:37but his consistency as well, because this Championship is really tough,

01:42probably a bit exhausted at the end.

01:44And this season, he got an early injury, so he wasn't connected with the flow of the squad

01:50at the beginning, but worked hard to reconnect with the squad.

01:54So when he had this opportunity to start after Habib, it was just natural.

01:58And I wasn't surprised.

02:00I wasn't worried about using a new player, even if he's really young,

02:05because he works hard every day.

02:07He knows how we are playing and he has a talent.

02:10So it's positive for a coach, I think.