Craig Hope has raised fresh concerns about Newcastle United’s record signing Nick Woltemade, suggesting that the team is failing to get the best out of the young German striker.
Despite a promising start to life in England and several impressive performances, Hope believes that Newcastle’s current playing style is limiting Woltemade’s effectiveness, especially in recent matches where he has struggled to influence games as he normally would.
During Newcastle’s 2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao in the Champions League, Woltemade once again went without a goal, marking his second consecutive game without finding the net.
While that statistic might appear worrying on the surface, it’s not an outright criticism of the player himself. Instead, it points to a wider issue within Eddie Howe’s attacking setup a problem of structure and rhythm that has seen the Magpies look unconvincing in forward areas despite positive results.
The victory over Bilbao was important, but few would describe it as a memorable performance. Newcastle secured three points and a clean sheet, but there were lingering signs of a side still searching for fluidity and sharpness in attack.
Woltemade had one clear chance to score—a header that he should have buried when the score was still 1-0. Beyond that, he showed flashes of skill and tidy link-up play but found it difficult to impose himself on the game.
Craig Hope, who was observing from high up in the stands at St James’ Park rather than from his usual press box position, believes he spotted the tactical flaw holding the striker back.
According to Hope, Newcastle are not playing to their attacking strengths or to Woltemade’s best qualities. The 22-year-old is not a traditional poacher who simply lurks inside the box waiting for chances.
His greatest strength lies in dropping deep to link play, creating space for runners, and acting as the pivot around which attacking moves develop. However, that style depends heavily on his teammates playing high up the pitch and providing movement around him.
Lately, Newcastle have been sitting too deep, which has left Woltemade isolated and often battling defenders near the halfway line instead of exploiting space in the final third.
Hope explained his observations by saying that the view from above offered him a different perspective on how Newcastle’s shape is affecting the striker. After Dan Burn’s opener, he noted that Newcastle failed to sustain pressure in Bilbao’s half.
Their lines dropped deeper, allowing Bilbao to push higher and close down Woltemade. This tactical choice had a ripple effect midfielders were denied space to operate, and the backline was forced to retreat even further.
As a result, Newcastle could not maintain their trademark intensity or press effectively, something that has defined their success under Eddie Howe in recent seasons.
The journalist pointed out that there was ample space behind Bilbao’s defense, but Newcastle rarely exploited it. Instead of running into those attacking zones, Woltemade frequently received the ball around the halfway line, where he was often dispossessed or forced into tight situations.
The same issue had been evident in previous games, including the recent draw against West Ham, where Newcastle struggled to play with their usual attacking freedom.
Hope emphasized that these moments were not due to Woltemade’s lack of effort or ability but rather a tactical mismatch between his playing style and the team’s current approach.
Beyond tactical concerns, there’s also a physical issue emerging. Woltemade has looked increasingly fatigued in recent weeks, and it’s hardly surprising. With injuries depleting Newcastle’s attacking options, he has been forced to lead the line in nearly every match without much rotation.
The absence of Yoane Wissa has placed additional burden on his shoulders, and now, to make matters worse, William Osula has picked up an ankle injury that could rule him out of the upcoming Premier League clash against Brentford.
This means Woltemade will likely have to dig deep once again on Sunday, shouldering the attacking responsibility before joining up with the German national team for international duty later in the month.
The physical and mental demands of playing constant high-intensity football are starting to take their toll, and Newcastle may need to manage his workload carefully if they want to keep him fit and firing across multiple competitions.
Still, even in a period of inconsistency, Woltemade’s quality is evident. His technical ability, vision, and intelligence on the ball have added a new dimension to Newcastle’s attack. But for those attributes to shine, he needs better support and structure around him.
Newcastle’s midfielders and wingers must push higher, create space, and offer runs beyond him just as they did so effectively last season when the team was at its best.
Craig Hope’s assessment highlights a growing truth about Newcastle’s current form: their success depends not just on individual talent but on tactical cohesion.
If Eddie Howe can restore that balance and adjust the team’s approach to better suit Woltemade’s natural game, the goals will inevitably return. For now, though, the German striker is working tirelessly in a system that doesn’t fully serve his strengths a problem Howe will need to solve quickly if Newcastle are to find their attacking rhythm again.
