Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer has admitted he understands why Nick Woltemade hit back at critics after a challenging first season at St James' Park, but the former striker remains steadfast in his belief that the Germany international is not a natural centre-forward.
Woltemade's Mixed Debut Season
Woltemade, who joined Newcastle from Stuttgart for a club-record £69 million, endured a rollercoaster campaign. He burst onto the scene with four goals in his first five Premier League appearances, but his form dipped dramatically after the New Year, managing just one top-flight goal in 2026. He finished the season with 11 goals and five assists across all competitions.
The 23-year-old has since slipped down the pecking order for Germany and is expected to start on the bench when his country opens their World Cup campaign against Curacao on Sunday.
Woltemade Defends His Output
Ahead of the tournament, Woltemade addressed the criticism, saying: 'I’m an ambitious person and always want to reach my full potential. That’s easiest to do in attack. But at Newcastle, I filled in at other positions, even as a defensive midfielder. Despite that, some pundits still considered me a striker. They'd ask, “Why does Nick score so few goals? Why isn't he providing more assists?” Those were the wrong questions, and I didn’t think they were entirely fair.'
He added: 'A goal or an assist is expected of me in every game. But if I’m not playing in attack, it’s significantly more difficult for me to get into dangerous scoring positions. The intensity of the criticism and the resulting unrest surrounding me have certainly surprised me.'
Shearer's Response
Shearer, who has often called for more from Woltemade, acknowledged that some of the issues are not the player's fault. 'I get it and understand Woltemade’s feelings,' Shearer told Betfair. 'I just don't see him as a main centre-forward, which is not his fault. I think it has been a tough season. He had a brilliant start, but it has been a tough season for him. But I understand his comments about unfair criticism.'
Earlier this summer, Shearer stressed the importance of Newcastle signing a new centre-forward in the transfer window, despite spending £124 million on Woltemade and Yoane Wissa last year. 'I think signing a striker for Newcastle is crucial in this transfer window,' Shearer said. 'It's a really, really important summer for Newcastle. I do believe last summer's transfer window has set them back two years, but we have to accept that and get on with it.'
