Why didn't Eddie Howe utilize 21-year-old prodigy forward against Everton?

Coming on the back of a brilliant PL performance against Manchester City, much was expected for the Magpies club against Everton. However, the display Eddie Howe's unit gave against the Toffees club definitely raises questions over their extremely terrible finishing in the final third.

Why didn't Eddie Howe utilize 21-year-old prodigy forward against Everton?

While the Tyneside club did create sufficient chances, the side lacked the presence of a conventional number 9 up front to convert them properly. Although manager Howe had the club's star forwards Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson injured, resting prodigy forward William Osula on the bench was his decision. Thus, the question arises: Why didn't Eddie Howe utilize the 21-year-old prodigy forward against Everton?

Out of the 14 chances the side created at Goodison Park, their frontline managed to keep only 3 of them on target, that included Gordon's spot kick miss in the 35th minute. Clearly, facing problems upfront, bringing Osula could have been a no-brainer for manager Howe, who is being targeted with questions as to why they had signed him in the first place, if not for being utilized in the forward role.

However, closely analyzing the scenario, it can be observed that Howe, being the experienced manager he is, was wise enough with his decision. While it has been the harsh truth that since Osula joined the Magpies club, he has had only one game start, coming in the EFL Cup, and some end minutes against Fulham in the PL. But, while the prodigy has shown much improvisation from the level he arrived at, it is clear he is far from his potential.

In the Danish prodigy's start against Wimbledon, he had looked impressive, fancying his chances to cut through the opposition backline and find opportunities of targeting the goal. However, it was clearly visible that to be a regular starter on Eddie Howe's side, he still feels like a raw talent, being in the refinement process rather than being the final product.

As has manager Eddie Howe's policy been with raw talents, he is giving William Osula the required time and space under his guidance that is needed to take him to the next level. Similar to what he had done with prodigy Lewis Hall last season, Howe wants to have the forward better prepared rather than just starting, for the sake of being a forward.

Thus, while there could be arguments made that Osula might have found the goal the Magpies club were looking for against Everton, Howe thinks otherwise. Instead of making him a one-match star and then losing track, Howe prefers him to move steadily through the process. While this would certainly demand patience, Newcastle fans would have to bear with it to get results like star prodigy Lewis Hall.