Nick Woltemade continues to make a mockery of transfer doubts after Liverpool blow
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp (Image: Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
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Liverpool and Alexander Isak's antics in the summer may have caused some 'panic' to breach Newcastle United's walls but any concerns have been fully put to bed now.
That's the view of Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp who has hailed the contribution of Nick Woltemade in lightening the mood around St James' Park.
The German striker has taken to English football like a duck to water after being signed for a club record £69million in the summer from Stuttgart. Woltemade bagged his sixth goal of the season in the Carabao Cup clash against Tottenham Hotspur in front of the Sky cameras on the same night that Liverpool crashed out of the competition.
The 23-year-old has become an instant cult hero on Tyneside with his deft footwork and aerial presence making him a constant threat to defences. In contrast, Isak has suffered a nightmare start at Anfield, yet to score in the Premier League and picking up a groin injury.
With the Swede having sorely disrupted Newcastle's pre-season plans, along with their initial failure to bring in a new striker as Hugo Ekitike, Liam Delap and Joao Pedro snubbed moves to St James' Park, it left United fans fearing the worst as the transfer window drew to a close. However, the later capture of Woltemade - and his subsequent form - has left supporters wondering if they'll have the last laugh.
In front of the Sky cameras on Wednesday night, Woltemade again showed his ability, grabbing the crucial second goal to see his side into the quarter-finals.
Redknapp, watching the game as a pundit, hailed the ability of the German international, particularly one moment when he bamboozled Spurs midfielder Joao Palhinho with a brilliant turn.
"He did a Cruyff turn on Palhinho after about 15 minutes and sent him to the cleaners," said Redknapp. "He has lovely little touches like that in tight areas, he can dribble.
"You don't associate someone 6ft 7ins having such lovely close control and a soft, deft touch.
"It's been a really good signing because they would have been panicking in the summer because it was so difficult. They didn't get Ekitike and then your star player has a lot of unrest at the club, Isak, so you're thinking 'we've got to get this right' - and they certainly have.
"There's still a long way to go but six goals at this point of the season, you're probably thinking if he can get two or three just to quieten it down.
"But you can see the players like him, he seems like a really loveable, good character which is something Eddie Howe is massive on - he doesn't just want good players, he wants good people at his club. He's been a really good signing."
Redknapp's fellow studio pundit Jobi McAnuff was equally fulsome in his praise for Woltemade and believes the German is one of the most unique forwards in the world.
"There's not too many players in world football you can compare him to," McAnuff added. "He is very unique in terms of his stature and people will associate that with banging it in early and direct and win it, but he is so much more than that.
"His feet, he has an elegance about him, he brings people into play and I think what Newcastle have done very well is match him with what they've got in wide areas.
"He is going to come a little bit shorter. Isak could do that but he could also go the other way - Woltemade's never going to run away from anyone but when you have that pace in behind him or one of the midfielders making that run, I think that makes them so so dangerous. He's settled in amazingly well."