Nick Woltemade admits the last 12 months have changed his life, but the Newcastle United forward is confident he can handle the pressure that comes with a high-profile role at St James' Park.
There have been question marks over his position in Eddie Howe's side after a disappointing second half to the season, following a £69m move from Stuttgart in August 2025.
Woltemade was an instant success after linking up with his new team-mates, but saw the goals and then the starts dry up post-Christmas.
The 24-year-old ended the season back in the starting line-up, with a series of displays which hinted at a more regular role in the side under Howe, but his recent lack of gametime meant he dropped down the pecking order for the German national side.
He watched from the bench as Kai Havertz and then Deniz Undav were used ahead of him in the 7-1 win over Curacao in their first World Cup game, but ahead of tonight's second Group E match against Ivory Coast, Woltemade has spoken about his ability to deal with setbacks, as well as the positive times.
Speaking to Sachsische Zeitung, he reflected on the last year for both club and country, saying: “The goals have given me a lot of confidence. I know the part I played in our successful qualification, and I’ve shown what I’m capable of at this level.
“But I was always aware that there might be other phases as well. That’s exactly what happened when I joined Newcastle and scored a lot of goals at first. Then there are times when things don’t quite click. That doesn’t rattle me. I can handle it.
“All in all, the last year has been a mad one for me. It’s changed my life. When I was standing on the pitch with the whole team before the match against Curacao and we were singing the national anthem, I was grinning from ear to ear. It’s such a huge and wonderful thing to be part of the biggest stage in football.”
Where exactly Woltemade fits into the Newcastle, and indeed Germany, side is a matter of much debate, with the tall frontman not the traditional centre-forward.
However, he has pointed to England and Bayern Munich star Harry Kane as the perfect example of how the role of a striker is changing, in a message Eddie Howe will love to hear.
“I feel comfortable playing in a central role, whether on my own up front, as part of a strike partnership or a line behind the strikers,” he said.
“It doesn’t really matter whether that’s a centre-forward or whatever you call it. I think football has changed. It’s become more versatile. Even Harry Kane isn’t a classic centre-forward.
“I watched England’s 4–2 win against Croatia in their first World Cup match. Kane’s a goalscorer, of course, but he’s not a classic centre-forward either. I can’t think of anyone at the top level who fits that profile quite so well. To be honest, that type of player doesn’t really exist anymore.”
