Nick Woltemade returned for pre-season training on Monday morning ahead of a big second season at Newcastle United following his club record move from Stuttgart last summer.
Woltemade hit the ground running during his first few months of the season, scoring nine goals across all competitions as he thrived as the Magpies' number nine. But in 2026, the goals dried up and the cohesion of playing as a centre-forward in Eddie Howe's system at Newcastle did not look like it was there at times.
Howe's tactical experiments
Howe experimented with playing Woltemade in midfield across February and March but the 24-year-old did not look like a natural fit in that role. He then found himself out of the side until the final three matches of the season where the German international played in a number 10 role behind Will Osula, who was playing as a centre-forward. He seemed to thrive in the role and it gave birth to hope that it could be his position for the Magpies moving forward as Howe ended the season playing 4-2-3-1 as opposed to 4-3-3.
At Stuttgart, Woltemade scored 17 goals in a season which at times saw him playing in a front two or as a shadow striker for Deniz Undav or Ermedin Demirovic.
Woltemade's preferred position
He has admitted that is where he plays his best football which could well be interpreted as a plea to Howe ahead of the 2026/27 season. "Preferably in a two-striker system or behind the striker," Woltemade said in a video conversation with former Bayern Munich and Germany star Thomas Muller. "It's better for me to play with a lot of freedom and when I have someone around me."
World Cup penalty miss and Klopp era
Woltemade returns to Tyneside on the back of missing a penalty in Germany's shock penalty shootout defeat to Paraguay in the last 32 of the World Cup. That defeat saw Julian Nagelsmann sacked as Die Mannschaft head coach and he has been replaced by Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund legend Jurgen Klopp.
Woltemade has offered his reflections on that penalty miss and whether he expects to remain a part of the team in the new Klopp era ahead of September's UEFA Nations League fixtures against Netherlands, Greece and Serbia. "It didn't feel good," Woltemade added. "I asked myself where did I shot my last penalty-kicks and what the goalkeeper would expect. I thought I was the clever one when I went to the right."
"I'm still glad I took the penalty in hindsight. That goes with my way, my character, that I take the ball, although the tournament hasn't gone quite optimally for me by then. Many players will be the same. If you look at the age of our players, it is still an exciting team. Now we get a new coach, let's see what will happen. It’s nice that we can go again in a few months."
