Nick Woltemade has been thrown into the deep end sooner than we expected at Newcastle United.
With Alexander Isak sold, Callum Wilson released, Yoane Wissa injured and Will Osula not yet trusted to start games regularly, the big German has started each of our last three league games, scoring twice in that time before netting in our Champions League win at Union SG on Wednesday.
Bayern Munich, who tried to sign him before we did over the summer, have continued to throw petty and bitter digs towards the £69m transfer, with board member Karl-Heinz Rummenigge calling us “idiots” for paying a club record fee.
However, away from all the “irrelevant” (Howe’s words) nonsense coming from Germany, it seems Newcastle staff have quickly taken to the 23-year-old and are pleasantly surprised by a few aspects of his game and character.
In his latest piece for The iPaper, Mark Douglas reveals that Newcastle coaches have been very impressed by his technical ability, his attitude and believe is is “better than we thought” in the air after superb headers against Wolves and Arsenal.
Staff have also noted a ‘confidence in his own skin’ which they believe will bode well, with the 6ft 6″ German a relaxed but competitive character who is up for the challenge and willing to learn as he continues to work on his fitness and Howe’s style of play.
His work rate has been praised and it’s hoped his game will go to the next level when his fitness levels improve, with the former Stuttgart star working to improve in order to handle the physicality of the Premier League, the intensity of games and the pressing demands placed on him by Howe.
Discussing the latest dig from Bayern on the fee we paid for Woltemade, Howe was quick to brush off the petty remarks:
“The market forces dictate transfers fees – not necessarily any one club,” the Toon boss said.
“We’re very pleased to have Nick with us. He’s started very strongly in what has been a difficult period for him because he’s been thrust straight into action with no training time of note with us.
“He’s done really well. We’re really pleased to have him with us and the transfer fee is absolutely irrelevant.”
