Hoeness unsurprised by Woltemade’s instant impact at Newcastle | OneFootball

Late in the summer transfer window, VfB Stuttgart coach Sebastian Hoeness had to say goodbye to one of his most important players, as Nick Woltemade left the MHPArena to join Newcastle for a €75 million fee.

Having scored nine goals in 23 appearances for Newcastle so far, Woltemade has quickly become a hit on Tyneside – and that doesn’t surprise his former coach.

“I knew that Nick is a very good striker and that he would become an outstanding one. That’s due to his footballing quality, his profile, and his height of 1.98 meters. As a person, he is open, eager to learn, and intelligent. He represents growth and development,” Hoeness said in a recent interview with Sport Bild.

“Since his transfer, we’ve spoken on the phone two or three times. The intensity in the Premier League is incredibly high, and he had to adapt immediately – but he’s capable of doing that! That’s why it didn’t surprise me that it worked out for him and that he continues on his steep trajectory.

“That was also part of my argument in the summer: Nick wouldn't get worse, he’d get better, become a German international and even more in demand. But of course, there was always the risk of him picking up an injury. I believe the transfer fee quickly proved reasonable – and that Nick could have become even more expensive.”