Former Newcastle United hero Andy Cole is certainly well-placed to comment on Nick Woltemade’s start to life at the club.
Indeed, Cole was a brilliant striker for Newcastle United between 1993 and 1995, scoring 68 goals in 84 games.
Though the likes of Les Ferdinand and, of course, Alan Shearer later surpassed him as Newcastle United legends, there’s little doubt that Cole was a brilliant player on Tyneside.
With that in mind, his comments on Woltemade are particularly interesting.
Newcastle’s club-record signing has already bagged six goals since moving to England but recent performances have had people questioning his suitability to Eddie Howe’s side.
That feels like more of a collective failing than anything the German himself has done and Cole believes that few could have seen such a prolific start coming.
Nick Woltemade celebrates scoring for Newcastle United.
Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images
Andy Cole says Nick Woltemade has proven better than expected for Newcastle United
Even Woltemade’s biggest fan would surely admit that recent weeks have been a struggle.
He has just one goal in six and is starting to look increasingly isolated, although it is worth noting that he provided the flick from which Harvey Barnes scored against Brentford.
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However, Newcastle aren’t currently losing games because of Woltemade. In fact, they were very much winning games because of him a few weeks ago.
On an individual basis at least, he’s made a better start than almost anyone could have imagined and Cole was keen to point that out when speaking to Sky Sports.
“If you look at what he’s done now, I don’t think anyone could have expected that from him,” he said.
“He’s an individual that wants to come get involved in the play, link the play and all that, but he’s had such a good start scoring goals as well.
“You know, that’s a big plus in itself for what he is, his size, he’s tall, he’s gangly.
“He’s got a really good first touch. He likes to bring players in into play, gets himself in the box.”
How many points Nick Woltemade has directly won for Newcastle United
Woltemade has notched game-winning goals against Wolves and Union Saint-Gilloise.
That means he’s directly contributed to three points apiece in the Premier League and the Champions League.
Had he not scored a fine header against Wolves on his Premier League debut, Howe’s side would be in an even worse position than they are now.
Newcastle will have been expected to beat USG no matter who scored the opening goal but their struggles away from home go back months now.
Had he not turned in Sandro Tonali’s shot with a clever flick that gets better with every viewing, that game in Brussels could have turned very nervy given Newcastle’s dreadful away form.