Nick Woltemade is facing an uncertain end to his first season at Newcastle United after a difficult run of form and limited playing time, with his future at St. James’ Park very much up in the air.
The 24-year-old Germany international has seen his role reduced for most of the second half of the season and even more in recent weeks, including failing to even make late-game cameos, as was the case during Newcastle’s 3-1 win over Brighton in MD35.
The situation, according to The Daily Mail’s Craig Hope,
has left the player and his camp frustrated, particularly given expectations after his high-profile arrival from the Bundesliga last summer.
“My information is that the striker is frustrated by his lack of playing time of late and believes he is worth a more prominent role,” Hope wrote. “His camp were in attendance at the weekend when he was an unused substitute during the 3-1 win over Brighton.
“What he wants, between now and the end of the season, is more minutes on the pitch.”
Despite speculation surrounding his future, Hope’s sources seemingly refuted the reports of Woltemade wanting a transfer out of Tyneside and being actively pushing for a move away.
”There is uncertainty, given the manner in which his first season has played out,“ Hope wrote. ”A good World Cup with Germany could bring an offer to the table, and that would leave all sides with a decision to make.“
Woltemade appeared in 10 Champions League games this season, scoring once, and he also featured in 48 matches on top of those across all domestic competitions, scoring 10 goals and assisting on four more.
The German forward, however, has not started a game for Newcastle since he last did back in March 23, when, coincidentally—or not—he assisted on a Magpies goal, but didn’t seem to do enough to convince Eddie Howe more than 28 combined minutes across the next four matches, the last one in which he didn’t even come off the pine.
