Howe

Manager Eddie Howe says it was a “relief” that forward William Osula did not leave Newcastle United on transfer deadline day because he now looks like the “complete package”.

The 22-year-old was close to joining Eintracht Frankfurt last month, only for the move to fall through.

Osula has since gone on to make an impact for Newcastle in the Premier League, Carabao Cup and Champions League, and played a key role in Bruno Guimaraes’ 90th-minute winner against Fulham on Saturday.

Although record signing Nick Woltemade remains first-choice striker, Osula’s contributions have been welcomed by Howe after Yoane Wissa suffered a knee injury while on international duty with DR Congo.

“The next step was for Will to try and play regularly, so that was the aim [with the Frankfurt move], especially with us bringing two strikers in,” Howe said.

“As a younger coach, I really admired the teams he built at Chelsea, in particular.

“He is definitely a visionary – someone that broke the mould in terms of how you manage in different ways to do things, and then following his success through different clubs, leagues. Incredible, really, what he’s achieved in his career.

“It’s always a great opportunity for any club to go up against one of his teams. I’m looking forward to the challenge immensely and I think it’s going to be a great game.”

Mourinho considers himself “a little Magpie” on account of his bond with former Newcastle manager Sir Bobby Robson.

The Portuguese shadowed Sir Bobby at Sporting Lisbon, Porto and Barcelona as an interpreter and assistant in the 1990s.

Mourinho has spoken glowingly about Newcastle over the years and said he “loved” the club before this game.

“I have heard Jose’s words about Newcastle and I absolutely echo them myself,” Howe said.

“They are great words about Sir Bobby and the role he played in his career. That’s really nice to hear, but the line stops tomorrow.

“When the game kicks off, we want to win. We are desperate for the points. It will be a competitive game between two great clubs.”

Newcastle lost 2-1 to Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday and will run a late check on influential midfielder Sandro Tonali, who is suffering from illness.

“We will give him every opportunity,” Howe said. “He wasn’t there at training today and he’s such an important player, so we will use all the hours we have.”

Joelinton says it was troubling to see Newcastle United team-mate Lewis Miley “get stick” after a landmark moment, but the Brazilian believes genuine supporters are firmly behind the teenager.

Miley chose to limit replies to a post he made on X to mark his 50th first-team game for Newcastle at the weekend. It is understood this was a precaution as he is still young.

The 19-year-old put in an accomplished display in the goalless draw against Bournemouth – his first Premier League start since February – but he still came in for criticism from a small minority of social media users who questioned his first-team credentials.

Miley’s course of action on the social media platform was noticed, and fans have since sent messages of support, while captain Bruno Guimaraes hailed his fellow midfielder as a “top player and guy”.

Joelinton played alongside academy graduate Miley in Newcastle’s 4-1 win against Bradford City on Wednesday night and said the youngster has a “great future in front of him”.

“It’s always difficult when you see your team-mate get stick,” Joelinton said following the Carabao Cup third-round tie. “I have had a difficult time here, too. I know how it is.

“I know the fans are behind the team and a really good young player. He played really well on Sunday. The team has to get better and everyone has to look on the mirror and get better.”

Miley praised Newcastle’s “amazing” travelling support in his post on Sunday, saying he was “very proud” to have hit the milestone for his boyhood club.

The midfielder broke a number of records during a breakout campaign at Newcastle a couple of years ago, including becoming the youngest player in Champions League history to provide an assist for an English side by doing so at the age of 17 years and 226 days.

Miley went on to suffer back and foot injuries and has faced intense competition for a starting berth while competing with fellow midfielders Guimaraes, Joelinton and Sandro Tonali.

But Miley, tellingly, kept his place in Eddie Howe’s starting line-up for the visit of Bradford.

“I thought Lewie was excellent,” the Newcastle head coach said. “In part, I think he really helped us in the first half. He played some lovely little deft touches and short passes into midfield using Joe and Bruno as a springboard, really, to control that midfield area.

“He’s come back into the team and produced two really good performances back-to-back. I thought he was really good against Bournemouth in maybe a slightly different way to tonight, but he’s developing his experience all the time and I’m really pleased with him.”

Woltemade had scored what proved to be decisive goal in the 1-0 win against Wolves at the weekend before coming off with cramp on his debut.

So, with striker Yoane Wissa sidelined with a knee injury, Gordon got the nod to lead the line.

And Howe refused to dwell on his decision not to start the towering Woltemade on Thursday night.

“I can’t live in that world,” he said. “I have to make decisions for the benefit of the players sometimes.

“It was a really difficult one for Nick. Any player would want to start the game, but I have got to try and manage him into the team and try and make sure he stays fit. That was always at the heart of this decision.”

Howe, as a result, recalled Gordon, who is currently serving a three-match domestic ban.

The rapid Anthony Elanga also came into the side in place of Jacob Murphy, who is nursing an Achilles issue, in a bid to try and exploit the space behind Barcelona’s high line.

Elanga and Gordon very nearly linked up in the opening stages.

However, Gordon could not connect with Elanga’s pullback before Harvey Barnes saw a curling effort comfortably saved by goalkeeper Joan Garcia just a few minutes later.

Barnes then had a huge opportunity to open the scoring midway through the first half after the lively Elanga slid the ball across to the back post but the forward could only fire straight at Garcia.

It brought back memories of the opening weeks of the season, when Newcastle fired blanks against Aston Villa and Leeds United.

No wonder Howe had his hands on his head on the touchline at one point.

In a game like this, Newcastle had to be ruthless in front of goal – just as they were in a 4-1 win against PSG a couple of a years ago.

To prosper in this competition, they are going to have to be clinical.

Starting with the trip to Brussels to face Union Saint-Gilloise next month.

“There was no lacking in terms of heart and courage,” Howe said. “We can be critical of a couple of things we could have done better but, ultimately, we will analyse it, try and improve and try and grow from this experience.”

A lot can change in two and a half months.

Isak was among those players celebrating in a jubilant huddle as the Champions League anthem played out at St James’ 76 days ago.

Newcastle had just secured their place at Europe’s top table and it felt like the club had real momentum going into the summer.

However, this has proved a frustrating window for Newcastle, who have missed out on Benjamin Sesko, Hugo Ekitike, Joao Pedro and James Trafford.

Then there is the Isak situation.

It fell to William Osula to play up front on Friday and Anthony Gordon, who is a winger by trade, is set to follow suit against Atletico Madrid on Saturday.

Yet Isak’s absence, and a lack of signings, has not completely soured the mood on Tyneside.

Saturday’s friendly is a sell-out and, despite this game against Espanyol taking place less than 24 hours beforehand, there were still 30,782 fans present.

They already have an eye on what is to come.

“Is this the way to Barcelona?” supporters in the Gallowgate chanted. “Bayern Munich? Lazio? Roma? The Champions League awaits for me.”