Howe: Osula 'progressing' following a 'turbulent' end to summer window

Eddie Howe insists the 'very driven and ambitious' Will Osula is progressing and improving following a 'turbulent' end to the summer transfer window - and has put himself in the frame to start Sunday's Premier League game against Arsenal at St James' Park.

- by Dominic Scurr

Will Osula scores his second goal against Bradford

Osula was linked with a £30 million deadline-day move to Eintracht Frankfurt, but stayed on Tyneside and scored twice in Wednesday's Carabao Cup win over League One Bradford City, earning another home tie against Tottenham Hotspur in the week commencing October 27.

And Howe said: "He's progressing really well, after a slightly turbulent end to the transfer window for him.

"But he took his goals really well today. I think he's been slowly but surely improving his game, and it wasn't just the goals.

"It was link play, holdup play, pressing, understanding, all the things that when you're at the top of the pitch are fundamental to the team's performance.