Alan Shearer comments on shock Nick Woltemade Newcastle United exit rumours - 'Trying to unsettle things'
Alan Shearer has given his verdict on the shock rumours that Nick Woltemade could return to Germany.
Rumours linking Nick Woltemade with a Newcastle United exit are nothing but ‘noise’ that shouldn’t be believed.
That’s according to club legend and Premier League record goalscorer Alan Shearer, who believes Woltemade is doing a good job under Eddie Howe, especially having ended his long goal drought recently. The Germany international signed from Stuttgart in the summer for £69million and made a promising start to his career at St. James’ Park, scoring 10 goals in his first 23 appearances across all competitions, including six goals in his first 10. However, Woltemade endured a 14-game goal drought between Boxing Day and 10th February, before finally netting the final goal in Newcastle’s 3-1 comeback win at Aston Villa in the FA Cup last weekend.
Alan Shearer comments on Nick Woltemade Newcastle exit rumours
Woltemade played in the No.10 role at Villa Park, helping to cover for the absence of talismanic midfielder and captain Bruno Guimaraes. The 24-year-old then played a similar role away at Qarabag in the Champions League, as the Magpies won 6-1 in the first leg of their play-off tie.
The Gazette has launched a new WhatsApp NUFC channel to bring the latest news, analysis and team & injury updates directly to your phone. Simply click this link to join our NUFC WhatsApp channel.
While Woltemade didn’t score in the latter, he was just as effective, completing both his attempted dribbles and winning five of his nine duels, while completing all but four of his passes to once again reiterate his class on the ball, despite his size. So, amid shock rumours from Bild that Woltemade could return to his homeland with Stuttgart or Bayern Munich - who wanted him before he joined Newcastle - Shearer believes the forward is doing just fine on Tyneside and is growing under Eddie Howe.
Nick Woltemade’s Newcastle United stats
- Appearances: 39
- Goals: 10
- Assists: 4
“I wouldn't believe any of that on Woltemade leaving Newcastle,” Shearer told Betfair ahead of Newcastle’s key clash with Manchester City on Saturday evening. He continued: “I don't know who it probably is trying to unsettle things again but, he got his goal at Aston Villa, his position in terms of where he's now playing has changed slightly under Eddie, which they had to do, because it's clear that look, he'll do a job in there, but it's not his favoured position, you can tell that. And we've all sort of witnessed that, but he had a good start in terms of goals. “I think the noise will settle down because of how he's playing now, where he's playing now. He looks a better player in that position, he looks more comfortable, more suited to what Eddie's asking him to do. So, no, I wouldn't believe any of that.”
Eddie Howe praises ‘tactically intelligent’ Nick Woltemade
Woltemade’s midfield transition in recent games is not too dissimilar to that of Joelinton before him, and like the £40m Brazilian, he’s adapted well to the transition. Howe said: “Tactically, he’s a very, very intelligent player. He’s obviously been well-educated in his former clubs, so he took to it really quickly and full compliment to him for doing that.”
Woltemade’s ability to play in midfield will be tested if he is asked to do a similar job at Manchester City on Saturday evening when the Magpies will renew their quest for a first win at the Etihad Stadium and a first in the league, in which they have lost on their last 16 visits to City, since September 2000.
Asked if he could perform in that role against Pep Guardiola’s men, Howe said: “We will see. From what I’ve seen in training and the way that he’s taken to the work that we’ve done with him, I’d say yes. “Of course, doing that in one environment is different to doing it on a matchday, with the pressure of the game and everything that entails. But I wouldn’t play him there if I didn’t think he could do it.”