'Osula can approach rest of campaign with goal obstacle cleared'

Ben Meakin, BladesPod

Will Osula bagged his first senior Sheffield United goals this weekend, firing the Blades to a comfortable, banana-skin-sidestepping win in the FA Cup. It's no more than the academy product deserves, having been thrown into the deep end this season because of the club's injury crisis.

It was a huge ask for Osula – who only turned 20 the week before the season – to lead the line for a struggling team in the Premier League. Previously, he'd played a grand total of 119 minutes of Championship football. His progress had stalled in early 2023 as United – again because of injuries – recalled Osula from his loan at Derby County out of sheer desperation.

It would be grossly unfair to look at Osula's record this season – 12 appearances, zero goals before Saturday - and draw any conclusions about his ability as a striker. He certainly hasn't looked like a forward lacking confidence, as his quick-thinking overhead kick against Luton Town showed.

Doubtless a loan spell in the Championship this season would have been better for the Denmark Under-21 international's development, but he's done all that can be asked of him in the Premier League instead. He has an explosiveness that very few of our other forwards possess and I've appreciated his willingness to take risks with the ball by throwing in a bit of skill and taking his shot.

I'm not expecting miracles from Osula in the second half of the season, but getting that first goal is always a hump for any striker to get over, and he can approach the rest of the campaign with that obstacle cleared.