Nick Woltemade made a right away influence on his Newcastle debut on the weekend, scoring the successful purpose in a 1-0 victory over Wolves at St. James’ Park – and incomes the admiration of membership legend Alan Shearer.
The 22-year-old striker rose to fulfill Jacob Murphy’s pinpoint cross with a strong header, sealing Newcastle’s first Premier League win of the season.
The end impressed Shearer, the division’s all-time prime scorer and famed aerial menace, who posted on X: “What a cross and an excellent higher header.”
Reacting to the message, Woltemade stated: “In fact he’s the legend. He scored a variety of targets and naturally I’m glad about it.”
He additionally defined that his aerial skill has been a spotlight of his improvement: “I labored lots on it the final weeks, the final months and the final yr. With my top, I assume it’s a must to. You will get extra targets if you happen to can have header.
“A header at all times feels good as a striker, particularly if you happen to work on it each week, so I used to be simply glad when the ball was getting into.”
Woltemade had solely accomplished 4 coaching classes together with his new teammates earlier than being handed his debut, however now faces an excellent higher check: Thursday’s Champions League conflict with Barcelona.
The German ahead is conscious of the historical past surrounding the fixture, with Faustino Asprilla’s hat-trick famously toppling the Catalans 28 years in the past. He’s desperate to embrace the problem:
“It’s my first Champions League sport at house right here at St. James’ Park in opposition to Barcelona. I assume it may well’t be higher, so I’m actually trying ahead to it.
“I wish to rating targets, however I assume at the moment was additionally essential that we received the sport. Now I wish to hold going and take a look at my finest each sport, and if then the targets come, after all I’m actually glad about it.”
Woltemade’s debut was lower quick by cramp, however he nonetheless left his mark. Reflecting on the step up in competitors, he admitted the depth was larger than he was used to in Germany: “Sure, it’s sooner, additionally the duels are extra intense.
“I assume the Premier League is the best degree of depth, so I hold engaged on it and must adapt to this league.”