Nick Woltemade's goals have dried up after a flying start to the season - but Newcastle's needs have been there for all to see
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe and striker Nick Woltemade
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe and striker Nick Woltemade
View Image
Eddie Howe believes that Nick Woltemade's positional switch to a midfielder in the second half of the season was 'imperative' given the club's injury woes.
The Magpies have been without skipper Bruno Guimaraes since February with a hamstring injury while Sandro Tonali has been in and out the team with illness and injury. That has resulted in Germany international Nick Woltemade being used in a deeper role with Howe grateful to the £69million star for helping the team in its hour of need.
When asked about Woltemade's move to drop deeper and away from leading the line, Howe told Chronicle Live: "I think it is a great thing for everybody.
"For us, if you have versatile players, it gives you a lot more choice and options on how you play - especially when you have injuries in your squad. It is almost imperative we have that.
"From the players' perspective, I think it is great for their learning. It is potentially great for their careers."
Howe moved Joelinton from a frustrated striker into a midfielder in his first few games as boss on Tyneside. And while Woltemade's future may not be in the engine room, Howe said: "You have seen with Joelinton that changing position has transformed his career and it has been a real positive for him.
"That won't always be the case with every player, and players will also have their preference on where they play. But I think we have some great lads who are willing to play anywhere."
Woltemade's change in role has become a big talking point in his home country with Julian Nagelsmann weighing in on the argument while the former Stuttgart star was probed by German media during the international break.
Howe, though, stated before the international break that he must do what benefits Newcastle, he said: "It has been beneficial for all sides at the moment, and we will continue to do what is best for the team and get results."
Nagelsmann had said: "He has often played very deep. When he has to defend as a No. 6, there's a long distance to goal. He's not a counter-attacking striker who runs 36 km/h. I can promise that he won’t be 80 metres away from goal with us"
Speaking to German publication Bild, Woltemade said: "It bothers me. If someone claims that I’m in a slump, I’d argue that this person doesn’t watch many Newcastle games.
"I know people associate me with goals, but you can’t compare a striker’s tally with that of a midfielder playing 50, 60, 70 meters from the opponent’s goal. I’m currently a completely different Nick Woltemade than I was at the start of the season. Right now, I should be judged by how I handle duels or secure space."
Here at ChronicleLive, we are dedicated to bringing you the best Newcastle United coverage and analysis.
Make sure you don't miss out on the latest NUFC news by joining our free WhatsApp group. You can get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking here to subscribe.
You can also subscribe to our free newsletter service. Click here to be sent all the day's biggest stories.
And, finally, if you would rather listen to our expert analysis then make sure to check out our Everything is Black and White podcast. Our shows are available on all podcast platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and you can also watch along on YouTube.