Nick Woltemade U-turn confirmed with fresh training ground update as Newcastle United watch on
Newcastle United £65million record transfer Nick Woltemade has now joined up with the German national team.
Newcastle United forward Nick Woltemade has been preparing for Germany’s World Cup qualifiers against Luxembourg and Northern Ireland this week.
It comes after the German football association issued a statement revealing Woltemade had been suffered from a ‘flu infection’ and would be delayed from joining up with the Germany squad.
The statement was released the day after Woltemade scored for Newcastle in a 2-0 win against Nottingham Forest to make it four goals in five starts for his new club.
The statement, released by DFB on Monday, read: “National team player Nick Woltemade will not be joining the German national team this Monday. The striker for English Premier League club Newcastle United, who scored his third goal for Newcastle in Sunday's 2-0 home win over Nottingham Forest, will not travel to the national team's headquarters at DFB partner Adidas in Herzogenaurach due to a flu infection.”
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Nick Woltemade U-turn confirmed
On Tuesday, DFB confirmed that Woltemade would indeed be joining up with the national team later in the week but exercised caution regarding his involvement in training or the upcoming friendly matches.
The further statement read: “Nick Woltemade is expected to arrive at the German national team’s headquarters in Herzogenaurach late Tuesday evening.
“The striker from English Premier League club Newcastle United, who has made four senior appearances so far, was initially unable to travel to the German national team on Monday due to a flu infection.
“It remains to be seen when Woltemade will be able to return to team training.”
But any doubts over Woltemade’s involvement were played down when the forward was pictured training with the German national team squad at Adidas Headquarters in Herzogenaurach, the same training centre visited by Newcastle United in July 2024.
It’s a positive update regarding the forward’s fitness as Newcastle will now be hoping Woltemade gets through the next two games without any fresh concerns.
The Magpies are back in Premier League action at Brighton & Hove Albion on October 18. The 23-year-old forward has been leading the line for Newcastle in the absence of the injured Yoane Wissa and has made a positive contribution with four goals in five starts.
As things stand, Woltemade is set to keep his place up front for Newcastle’s trip to Brighton, with Wissa still thought to be weeks away from a return.
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Nick Woltemade impresses for NUFC
Woltemade has scored three Premier League goals in four matches for Newcastle while also scoring on his full Champions League debut against Union Saint-Gilloise. Despite missing the opening three matches of the league season, no summer signing has scored more Premier League goals than the German so far.
Reflecting on Woltemade’s impact, Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe said: “We expected a lot from him when we signed him. We believe in him. We believe that he can make the transition from another league to this.
“But in saying that, it's still so difficult to do, with no training, to be thrust straight in. Hardly knew his teammates' names, and then he's playing.
“And then you're judged instantly on whether you're going to be a success or failure. That's tough. He's made such a positive impression around the training ground, with his interactions with staff and with players.
“Then he's delivered on the pitch. So I think under big pressure, he's done very, very well. And I think [against Nottingham Forest] was arguably his best game. Not so much first half, but second half, I thought he was all action.