Eddie Howe wanted to take the pressure off of Nick Woltemade before his Newcastle United debut.
Replacing Alexander Isak is an impossible task for anyone, let alone a relatively inexperienced 23-year-old forward with only 70 Bundesliga games behind him.
Still, the German international at least started to help Newcastle United fans move on from a damaging summer on Saturday.
Indeed, Woltemade scored on his Newcastle United debut, netting a fine header to help Howe’s side win their first Premier League game of the season.
There’s little Newcastle’s club-record signing can do about his price tag. Woltemade does not decide that and the only thing he can do is score goals for the club.
He certainly made a decent start with that on Saturday. Now, more insight into Howe’s management of the situation has emerged.
Nick Woltemade celebrates after scoring in a Premier League game between Newcastle United and Wolves.
Photo by Harriet Massey/Newcastle United via Getty Images
Eddie Howe stopped Nick Woltemade from doing interviews before Newcastle United debut
According to The Chronicle, Howe was eager to stop Woltemade from feeling too much pressure before his debut.
The Newcastle United manager and the club as a whole held the Germany striker back from interviews with various rights-holders before the game, with Jacob Ramsey instead put up in front of the cameras.
MORE NEWCASTLE STORIES
Quite how much of an impact that had is up for debate. Still, throwing Woltemade in to answer all manner of questions about replacing Isak, all while he’s trying to settle in, would clearly not have been helpful for him.
What Eddie Howe told Nick Woltemade after Newcastle United debut
Howe and Woltemade embraced after the game.
It certainly wasn’t a vintage display from Newcastle but that does not matter. The most expensive player in the club’s history had just scored the kind of goal Newcastle have desperately lacked all season to get their campaign up and running.
After the game, Howe was asked what he told Woltemade during that hug.
He admitted he couldn’t remember exactly but thinks he thanked his striker.
“I do that with a lot of the players,” he said.
“I want them to know how special winning is, I want them to know that what they give is appreciated and it’s not just by the supporters, but by me and the coaching team.
“Because we’ve had a special group and they do give so much. We’ve had a lot of internationals flying around the world. Our need is so great that they have to get back into that [Howe’s team] very quickly.
“So, I think it was just a ‘thank you’ and that this is just the start of the journey for him.”
Woltemade will almost certainly start for Newcastle against Barcelona on Thursday in the Champions League, with Yoane Wissa injured.