Newcastle United forward Nick Woltemade has “exceeded expectations” in his first season at St James’ Park, former Germany international Jens Lehmann has claimed.
Woltemade, who became Newcastle’s club-record signing in August in a £69million move as the Magpies attempted to fill the void left by Alexander Isak’s £125m departure to Liverpool, has come under significant scrutiny as an early strong start to the 24-year-old’s career at the club has tailed off.
The Germany striker scored six goals in his first 11 games for Newcastle but has not found the net in the Premier League since December. Woltemade’s last goal came in the FA Cup win at Aston Villa on February 14.
With Anthony Gordon and, more recently, Will Osula preferred up front, Woltemade has spent time playing in a deeper midfield role and has been limited to cameo appearances off the bench in Newcastle’s last three matches of an alarming Premier League slump, losing four successive matches by a single goal to sit 14th.
Woltemade’s debut season on Tyneside has divided opinion, and those who believe he should return to the XI were offered evidence to support that claim in Newcastle’s 1-0 defeat at Arsenal last Saturday, when Woltemade played a superb ball over the Gunners’ defence for Yoane Wissa — another summer signing who has struggled — only for the DR Congo striker to volley over from close range.
Lehmann urges Newcastle to stick with Woltemade
Woltemade has 14 direct goal involvements in all competitions this season and ex-Arsenal goalkeeper Lehmann believes that represents an impressive return for a player who had limited top-flight experience in Germany before his move from Stuttgart.
“He over-exceeded my actual expectations at the beginning of the season,” Lehmann told talkSPORT.
“Normally when you come to the Premier League from a league where the football is a little bit slower, you need to take time to adjust.
“It normally takes three, four or five months. So he did really well at the beginning.
“He probably has to recover from that a little bit because he’s still a young guy. And we don’t know his physical details. So it may come down to that.
“In terms of Germany, I hope that he’s getting better [ahead of the World Cup].
“For a young player, it’s quite normal that you cannot have this level of presence and good performances throughout your first Premier League season.”
Asked if he would persist with Woltemade, Lehmann said: “Yes, he’s a very good player.
“Considering his size, technically he’s gifted. And he’s got a fantastic presence in the box. He will come [good].
“Sometimes, for a striker in his position, you need to be waiting for good assists and good deliveries.
“It’s not only down to yourself.”
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