EDDIE HOWE claims Nick Woltemade should have no fears that his new role could scupper his World Cup hopes.
And he told the 6ft 6in striker that will still pick him to lead ’s as long as continues to flourish in ’s midfield.
Nick Woltemade has impressed in his new midfield role at NewcastleCredit: Getty
The Mags are set to ring the changes tomorrow for the play-off round second leg dead-rubber with Qarabag after last week’s thumping 6-1 win in Azerbaijan.
However, it remains to be seen whether gets the opportunity to get back amongst the goals as No.9.
The club-record £69m signing has been deployed on the left of attacking midfield in Newcastle’s last three games – coinciding with a hat-trick of victories.
After establishing himself over recent months as Germany’s main forward, the switch at club level may have ramifications for this summer’s showpiece with the likes of Kai Havertz, Deniz Undav and Jonathan Burkardt trying to steal that spot.
Though Howe is not expecting to have any conversations with Woltemade’s national manager Nagelsmann over the positional change and said: “The role isn’t dissimilar to how Germany have used him anyway. They’ve played him as a nine, they’ve asked him to come into lower positions.
“So I don’t think it’s a big change and I’m sure their manager will look at it and go, if he’s doing well for Newcastle and he’s playing minutes, then that’s only going to help his cause.
“They know what he can do, obviously coming through the youth system there. They’ll have no doubts about his strengths and what he can offer the national team. I just hope that he continues to flourish in whatever position we play him.”
On whether he had held talks with the star himself, who has scored 11 times since his arrival from Stuttgart, Howe said: “I’ve had many conversations with Nick on a broad range of subjects. Even when he’s playing as a No.9 as we used him, it wasn’t to stretch the line, it was to come lower on the pitch.
“In terms of his Germany career, without speaking for Nick, him playing well in any position for us is only going to help supplement that. Nick is very, very happy playing the role that he has done the last few games, there’s no sort of fight with him on that.
“Hopefully we’ll see the very best of him, but his position isn’t fixed, we can change however we see fit depending on the game.”
Howe enjoyed incredible success by transforming Joelinton from misfiring forward to midfield warrior with Toon.
But he brushed off talk of having a similar plan for Woltemade, adding: “No, I wouldn’t necessarily say so. I can understand why you would ask the question, but Nick was always in our thoughts very much as a deep-lying player, deep-lying No.9. All his best work came from starting higher and coming lower.
“Now, he’s just starting lower and staying in the middle line, I don’t think it’s a great change. “Who knows what the future holds for him, but he’s a very good attacker for us and we’ll use him in a variety of positions.”
Meanwhile, Woltemade’s compatriot Malick Thiaw will serve a one-match suspension tonight but Sven Botman (back) and fellow striker Yoane Wissa (dead leg) are back available.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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