William Osula has been largely forgotten about at Newcastle United. A summer signing who has spent the autumn and most of the winter hibernating, but on this rare sighting of the young striker, there is definitely something for Eddie Howe to work with.

This was only Osula’s second start and there had not been much in his brief cameos as a substitute for supporters to get excited about. A lot of energy, a lot of enthusiasm, but not much of an impact on a game.

After this performance against Bromley you can see why training-ground sources have been talking up the progress that the Denmark Under-21 international has made away from the first-team glare.

Osula’s first goal for Newcastle was a stunner. Having looked like he was struggling to get on the same wavelength as those around him in the first half, making runs that were either not spotted or ignored, he created something for himself.

Cutting inside from the right flank, he stood the defender up with a couple of step-overs, shifted the ball on to his right foot and smashed an unstoppable shot into the far corner. It was a high-class finish and a really nice moment.

Newcastle supporters had come here hoping to see the 21-year-old open his account against League Two opponents, having failed to do so on his only other start, in the Carabao Cup against Wimbledon, back in October.

But the fact that all the substitutes warming up on the touchline, as well as the players on the pitch, ran over to celebrate so enthusiastically with him showed it was also a popular one in the dressing room too.

Osula is no Alexander Isak – very few people are – but Newcastle signed him as a “project player”, someone with raw talent that needed to be shaped and moulded.

They were never planning for him to be Isak’s only back-up this season, but Callum Wilson’s constant injury problems have forced him into the role. Howe has been patient, he has kept Osula’s involvement to a minimum, but as he showed with Lewis Hall last season, he will only put players in when they are ready.

‘It was a brilliant finish but this was a big test for him and he has come through that’

Osula still has work to do, clearly, but the goal was a bright flash of brilliance that illuminated this otherwise routine FA Cup win. “I think he is developing well,” said Howe. “I feel a bit for him because the two games he has started here, he’s played against a back five with little space and his best asset, as you saw with the goal, is his pace and that goal was of the highest quality.

“It was a brilliant finish but this was a big test for him and he has come through that. There was a bit of pressure on him, he needed to score, he wanted to score and he has got that out of the way now.

“You have to be patient with every player – everyone develops in different ways – but we trust the process we have with young players.”

When Newcastle paid £12 million to Sheffield United for Osula it caught most people by surprise, but Howe and sporting director Paul Mitchell both agreed he was a young player worth taking a chance on.

With no goals in 28 Premier League appearances for Sheffield United, there was not the usual statistical data to back up that decision, but Newcastle loved his physical attributes, his speed, athleticism and height. He has some skill too, quick feet and he is willing to learn.

This time last year, Hall could not get a game for Newcastle. People talked about money being wasted but fast-forward 12 months and the full-back has turned himself into one of the club’s most important players and has broken into the England team.

Newcastle knew they would have to take their time with Osula; that he had much to work on, but they believe the rewards will come. His goal against Bromley suggests they know exactly what they are doing.