Nick Woltemade's move to Newcastle United went through quickly last week and the striker was one of the Germany stars who suffered scathing reviews in the media following 2-0 defeat to Slovakia
Nick Woltemade meets Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe
Nick Woltemade meets Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe(Image: Newcastle United via Getty Images)
Eddie Howe has warned that Newcastle United's record signing Nick Woltemade will need time to adjust to life in the Premier League after his £69million move from Stuttgart.
Woltemade led the line for Germany on Thursday night but his country lost 2-0 to Slovakia in a World Cup qualifier with media critics branding his performance as "almost invisible".
A screaming headline in Germany's main newspaper Bild on Friday morning also bellowed: "Historic Germany embarrassment"
Germany face Northern Ireland in Cologne tomorrow night in a crunch Group A fixture but it remains to be seen if Woltemade makes the team sheet.
Howe is eager to get Woltemade back to base as he waits patiently to start preparations for the clash at St James' Park against Wolverhampton Wanderers next weekend.
The Toon boss is not expecting miracles from his big money signing just yet and said: "There will be a period of adjustment so we all have to be very understanding of that. It is difficult for players to just to come in.
"He has not had a pre-season with us and I love every player to experience that because your learning is a lot quicker.
"But I think he has qualities that translate across anyway, he is very good technically. He is very good around the box, he scores goals and I think that will translate."
Howe is expected to give Woltemade and fellow new boy Yoane Wissa, who came in from Brentford for £50m on deadline day, their first taste of a sold out St James' against Wolves as Newcastle look to get their first win on the board.
Newcastle went into the international break just above the relegation zone and Howe is eager to get back to work - and move on from the Alexander Isak transfer saga which ended with the Sweden star getting his £130m move to Liverpool.
The Newcastle head coach said: "There is a huge frustration as we know we are judged against everything we deliver. And that is why the players have handled it all really well, it would have been very easy for them to feel differently about the situation.
"They have taken ownership of their own performances, they have viewed it absolutely brilliantly."
Howe also feels that the Isak controversy, which dragged on for 55 days, has tested his players.
Howe said: "I don't think every squad would have been able to blank it out and carry on and make the team grow from the experience. "That is always the challenge we have to be better for what happened and not succumb to it, that is the challenge ahead now."
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