By Martin Graham
Nick Woltemade he tried to disappear into the winter evening, lowering his hat as he left the Stadium of Light.
That would never work. A 6ft 6in figure, dressed in black and white, was always going to command attention.
Especially not after his decisive moment in the Wear–Tyne derby earlier in the season, when a misjudged header ended up deciding the game in Sunderland’s favour.
While most Newcastle players jeered as they went up to the team’s coach, Woltemade received a very different response. It was followed by applause, cheers and chants of “Hero”, a strange tribute after a goal that hurt his own team but delighted his opponents.
Many players might have needed time to recover mentally. Woltemade did not. In just a few days, he struck twice before the break against Chelsea, underlining a resilience that has been tested again during his recent barren spell in front of goal.
Eddie Howe recognized the challenge. “He made a fantastic start,” said the Newcastle manager. “Expectations went up immediately. Keeping it going is extremely difficult.”
So what has changed for the German striker?
A start that set unrealistic expectations
Just a few months ago, such a question would have sounded absurd.
Woltemade began his Newcastle career with ruthless efficiency, converting six of his first six shots on goal. Arsenal and Wolves were punished with powerful headers, Union Saint-Gilloise with an inventive touch and Brighton with a spectacular heel.
Even the player himself did not expect such an explosive display after completing a £69m move from Stuttgart at the end of the summer window. Confidence surged and he took to the pitch hoping to score every time.
Those close to him recall a particular awe at the quiet authority with which he fired a shot against Nottingham Forest in October, sealing a 2-0 victory.
However, this level of accuracy never lasted. Woltemade carried the scorer’s responsibility while Yoane Wissa recovered from a knee problem, and the margin for error was small.
Wissa’s return was aimed at extending the charge, but both attackers have found chances harder to come by during a punishing string of matches.
Club and international commitments have left little room for extended training work, which has frustrated the coaching staff as they reshape the squad following Alexander Isak’s summer move to Liverpool.
Despite the drought, Woltemade remains composed. He has started just six games since his Chelsea double, and his focus has remained firmly on collective results rather than individual numbers.
Adjustment pains in a new league
It’s also worth remembering Woltemade’s limited experience at the highest level.
He is still 23 years old and only became a regular starter at Stuttgart in December 2024. His switch to England followed Newcastle’s failure to land a number of attacking targets, forcing a quick adaptation to a new environment.
This is his first season outside Germany, and the Premier League has demanded a faster pace, greater physical stamina and a different tactical role. Newcastle’s structure had previously revolved around a mobile striker who pressed from the front and attacked space, traits that do not naturally define Woltemade.
The contrast is visible in the statistics. In his last 11 La Liga appearances, referees have penalized opponents for fouling him just four times, reflecting the physical battles he faces.
Opposition analysts now have far more footage to dissect than before the campaign, and defenders have adjusted accordingly.
There have been games where Woltemade has been late in attacking areas, lacking the instincts of a penalty shootout. In others, he has been isolated, with too little support to move forward.
That context helps explain why he is averaging less than two tries per league game. Against Wolves last month, even promising headers failed to trouble the keeper, while the supply lines have also failed.
Newcastle may offer more crosses than any other team in the Premier League, but their accuracy is among the weakest, a problem for a striker who prefers to play with the ball at his feet rather than aerial bombardment.
Find the right role
Woltemade is not a classic striker, despite his towering frame.
At Stuttgart, his best moments often came in pockets between midfield and attack, where he could slide past opponents and combine with team-mates, displaying a technique rarely associated with his height.
Howe has experimented with this idea. A 4-2-3-1 system against Bournemouth saw Woltemade operating behind Wissa, and a similar set-up appeared during the second half of the recent draw with Brentford.
The manager has admitted that the attacking unit is still a work in progress as the summer arrivals are integrated into the wider structure.
What has never been questioned is Woltemade’s mentality.
“Nick has approached everything with an outstanding attitude,” Howe said. “For me, that’s the key reason why I think he’ll come back well.”
The goals may have stopped, but the foundations, both mental and technical, remain firmly in place.
