Jamie Carragher believes Newcastle United’s system suits Nick Woltemade down to the ground.
The striker has made a blistering start to his Newcastle United career, scoring three goals in his first six games since a record-breaking move from Stuttgart.
To do that while trying to get up to speed with life in the Premier League all while Bayern Munich keep aiming digs towards his price tag is impressive.
While it is true that the rest of Eddie Howe’s frontline were struggling in the post-Alexander Isak era, there were signs of life on Wednesday night in Brussels.
Indeed, Woltemade was brilliant during Newcastle’s 4-0 win over Union Saint-Gilloise in the Champions League.
The Germany international scored what increasingly looks like a brilliant goal on every viewing, all while dovetailing nicely alongside Anthony Gordon and Anthony Elanga.
Carragher is impressed.
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Jamie Carragher praises Nick Woltemade, Anthony Gordon and Anthony Elanga
The trio started together for the first time and did so again during Newcastle’s Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest.
Speaking ahead of that game, Carragher was full of praise. These are early days of course but it certainly looks as if Newcastle have a new way of playing. There may still be teething problems ahead, but the early signs point to a promising time of things in the new system.
The pundit told Sky Sports: “The pace of Gordon and Elanga really suits Woltemade. He’s got goals and had a brilliant start to his Newcastle career, but he’s not Isak in terms of how he plays. He’s not trying to stretch the defence and run in behind.
“He wants to get involved in build-up and almost play between the lines. That could really help Gordon and Elanga in terms of making penetrating runs in behind.”
What Anthony Gordon has said about Nick Woltemade
Gordon is the most experienced member of Newcastle’s new-look frontline. Woltemade has a big price tag of course, but does need to be given time to fully adapt to life in England.
It has been a difficult few months for Gordon but his performance in Brussels was very promising indeed.
The England international needs to have a big season to ensure he heads to the World Cup next summer and appears to be relishing Woltemade’s impact.
After the USG game, Gordon praised Woltemade’s style of play.
“I thought Nick played really well, especially the way he linked up and was holding the ball up. When your number nine does that, it allows everybody to come into the game.
“Fair play to him, he did really well.”
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