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It didn’t take long for Newcastle United new signing Nick Woltemade to feel the effects of the Premier League.
Woltemade joined for a club-record £69million from Stuttgart and scored on his Premier League debut in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The 6ft 6in German striker headed home Jacob Murphy’s cross in the 30th minute but later had to withdraw midway through the second half due to cramp.
Bruno Guimaraes can’t help but laugh at Nick Woltemade’s cramping up
Woltemade initially cramped up at half-time, which amused Guimaraes, before continuing until the hour-mark.
Asked about the 23-year-old’s start to life on Tyneside, the Brazilian, speaking ahead of tonight’s Champions League opener against Barcelona, said: “I like it, I like it, he's impressing me in the training as well, I think he's very, very young, we have seen he was not used to the Premier League pace, he got to camp with 45 minutes, I've never seen this before!
“It was nice, I'm very happy for him, scoring on his debut is a moment to remember for him, I hope this continues, but he's showing his quality in the training as well, so yeah, he's a good player.”
Nick Woltemade expected to start for Newcastle United vs Barcelona
Woltemade has recovered fine from his first Premier League match and is expected to lead the line against Barcelona with fellow new signing Yoane Wissa ruled out until after the October international break.
But Woltemade is unlikely to play a full 90 minutes, with Newcastle boss Eddie Howe keen to manage his workload ahead of Sunday’s trip to AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League.
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Howe said: “Yeah, we're trying to take everything into consideration when we're picking the teams at the moment. You have to have one eye on the future in terms of future games to make sure that whatever team you pick is balanced.
“The priority is always in the next game but we're, of course, looking ahead to who we have available with future games in mind. Team selections aren't always straightforward, I think, in a lot of goes into them.”
Bruno Guimaraes’ Newcastle United appearance record
But if there is one player that is likely to start both games it is Guimaraes, who has incredibly started the 68 Premier League games consecutively.
How does he keep himself fit? “It's a good question, but I try to manage it with my whole team, I have my personal physio, I have my personal trainer as well, they are talking with the club every time, so when we finish the game I spend a lot of time doing the recovery to be ready for the next game, even more now, we play Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday, so we have to be ready.
“To be honest, sometimes the gaffer talks to me and I say, gaffer, I don't want to be out, I want to play every game as possible because the career is short, and I can say I have this with me, I don't like to be out, even when he wants to put me out I say, I don't think this is the moment, and this moment never gets.
“So, yeah, I just try to help the team and the club the best way possible.”
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