After only a short time at Newcastle, Nick Woltemade is already one of the top performers. His performances have quickly earned him the trust of his teammates, who therefore seek him out time and time again.
Despite an unfamiliar league and his first spell abroad at Newcastle United, Nick Woltemade needed no time to settle in. It doesn’t seem as if the tall striker has been wearing the Magpies’ jersey for less than two months. The 23-year-old is already well integrated into the team after such a short time, as a statement by teammate Anthony Gordon after the 3-0 win against Benfica made clear. “He fits in so well with my game. He sees the little passes I play around the corner—that’s my style of play as a winger,” the 24-year-old told the BBC. But it’s not just the 16-time England international who enjoys playing with the summer signing. “Nick has settled in well in that regard, mainly because the lads trust him with the ball and want to play it to him at any time,” coach Eddie Howe assured at the press conference ahead of Saturday’s home game against Fulham (4 p.m.). This speaks volumes for Woltemade’s attitude and courage.
Howe praises Woltemade’s physical development
The coach was also impressed by his physical development. Since his arrival, the striker has “improved enormously” in this respect. “I think he showed his best physical performance so far against Benfica. I thought his pressing from the front, his attitude to pressing, his stamina and robustness were excellent,” Howe explained. Nevertheless, the challenge remains to get him to a top level for the many weeks of English football. Both physically and mentally, it’s a new rhythm for the 23-year-old.
After a good start, Howe now finds him much more relaxed than at the beginning. “I see a player and a person who comes to the training ground and feels more comfortable in his surroundings,” said the 47-year-old. Accordingly, his “natural personality” is also coming to the fore more and more. So it seems that Woltemade has not only quickly found his feet on the pitch in Newcastle.
