Newcastle United insiders are scoffing at suggestions about striker Nick Woltemade.
Woltemade is Newcastle United’s club-record signing and has already opened his account for the club by scoring the winner against Wolves on his Premier League debut.
The German scored the kind of goal often attributed to a classic centre-forward, crashing in a fine header at the back post.
Still, there is more to the striker’s game. Woltemade is capable of playing as a Number 10 and there have been suggestions that he is perhaps not the most traditional of centre-forwards.
However, those behind the scenes at Newcastle do not agree with such a view.
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Newcastle United do not think Nick Woltemade is a Number 10
According to The Daily Mail, those inside the club have scoffed at suggestions he has indeed been signed as a Number 10.
That’s because they simply do not operate with a player in that role, with Eddie Howe generally deploying a 4-3-3 system.
The report adds that even if Woltemade’s attributes would suit that role, the club will work tirelessly to turn him into an effective No.9 of Premier League standard.
Eddie Howe has already confirmed his plans for Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa
Woltemade is only one of two strikers Newcastle signed this summer, although it doesn’t really feel like it right now.
Indeed, fellow new signing Yoane Wissa is yet to play for the club following his move from Brentford on deadline day due to an injury sustained while playing for DR Congo over the international break.
Theoretically, the two players could line up together. Woltemade could play deeper, while Wissa can operate out wide.
Still, Howe is reluctant to force Wissa and Woltemade into the same Newcastle team just for the sake of it.
Earlier this month, the Newcastle United manager said: “It’s something we can do and we’ll look at. I don’t know if we want to change the tactical framework too much but I’ll never rule anything out.”
Woltemade will need to lead the line for Howe over the coming weeks, with Wissa not expected to return before the international break in October.
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