Callum Wilson's latest injury setback could open the door for summer signing William Osula as Newcastle United again plot how to manage without the attacker. The 32-year-old is facing eight weeks out with a hamstring injury, with Eddie Howe downplaying his side's ability to find a replacement in the January window.

Osula has so far been restricted to just 12 minutes of Premier League football since arriving at Newcastle in the summer with Howe reluctant to introduce the 21-year-old from the bench in recent games, even with Wilson ruled out. The youngster has impressed behind the scenes and in brief spells for the Magpies, with Howe now suggesting he has no qualms over dishing out some game time in the coming weeks.

"Obviously Callum's injury is a blow in respect of our strength and depth in that position but I think Alex at the moment, touch wood is fit, looking good, scoring goals and playing well," Howe said on Friday.

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"We're doing a lot of work with Will behind the scenes and he's progressing nicely so I'd have no hesitation in playing him as well. So I think we have two - and then a variety of options behind that - which hopefully we won't have to use."

Osula arrived on Tyneside in a move that cost £10m and despite being signed for the future, rather than the present, ended up being Newcastle's most lavish signing of the window. Howe, however, has always stressed that it would take time for the inexperienced forward to get up to speed at this level.

"You don't suddenly land and adjust and become a Premier League striker [but] he is readier than he has ever been and now with Callum out, he has to step up. He is big, quick and strong and there is just that refinement," he again stressed this week. "The only thing that can bring that is time."