Nick Woltemade has made it clear that he is eager for the day he finally shares the pitch with Yoane Wissa from the first whistle, admitting he hopes the pair can soon form a full partnership at the heart of Newcastle United’s attack.
So far, the two forwards have rarely played together, often being rotated in and out by Eddie Howe as the manager manages workloads and form. It has felt like one comes on just as the other leaves, but with the fixture list becoming more demanding, that approach may soon change.
Newcastle are entering a brutal run of matches, with games arriving every few days and difficult away trips on the horizon. The festive period will test the squad’s depth, and Woltemade believes that having multiple high-quality attacking options fit at the same time is exactly what the team needs.
After scoring twice in the 2-2 draw with Chelsea at St James’ Park, the German striker sounded genuinely excited by the possibility of lining up alongside Wissa rather than taking turns with him.
Woltemade explained that the sheer volume of matches makes rotation unavoidable, but also opens the door for tactical flexibility. With nine games scheduled in January alone, he feels it is only natural that Newcastle will rely on all of their attacking firepower.
From his point of view, there is no reason why he and Wissa cannot complement each other. Both are fit, both bring different qualities, and Woltemade hopes that situation stays the same so they can finally build something together on the pitch.
Against Chelsea, Woltemade once again showed why Newcastle invested so heavily in him. His movement, energy, and sharp finishing caused constant problems for the Blues, and his partnership with Anthony Gordon stood out as a major positive.
Gordon provided the assist for Woltemade’s second goal and was heavily involved in the build-up, while his pressing helped force mistakes that Newcastle capitalised on early in the game.
Woltemade spoke warmly about that connection, highlighting how the first goal came from aggressive pressing and the second from a perfectly delivered cross.
Since arriving from Stuttgart for £69 million, Woltemade has now scored nine goals for the club, a return that continues to justify the faith shown in him. Beyond the numbers, his confidence seems to be growing with every performance.
That confidence was badly tested the week before, when he endured a nightmare moment against Sunderland by scoring an own goal in the derby. It was a painful experience, made even more surreal by the reaction from the home crowd, but Woltemade has responded in the best possible way.
He admitted that the Sunderland game was a low point, both personally and emotionally. However, the support he received afterwards left a lasting impression. When he came off the bench in the Carabao Cup tie in midweek and heard the Newcastle supporters singing his name, it lifted him instantly.
For Woltemade, that moment confirmed that the fans were still behind him, even after such a difficult mistake. He was determined to repay that faith, and his performance against Chelsea was his way of saying thank you.
Reflecting on the match itself, Woltemade felt Newcastle were unfortunate not to take all three points. He believed the team’s first-half display was outstanding, full of energy, intensity, and intelligent pressing.
Even in the second half, he felt Newcastle were solid, but conceded two goals from situations that do not usually trouble them. For him, it was one of those frustrating games where the performance deserved more than the result.
Eddie Howe was quick to praise his striker after full-time, describing it as Woltemade’s best performance in a Newcastle shirt so far. The manager highlighted how he led the line, worked tirelessly for the team, and took his chances with real composure.
As Newcastle look ahead to a packed schedule and crucial matches, Woltemade’s form, attitude, and hunger to link up with Wissa could be vital. If the two forwards are finally unleashed together, it may give Newcastle a new attacking edge at a time when they need it most.
