Nick Woltemade reveals he asked to before subbed off in Newcastle v Wolves clash due to cramps | OneFootball

Newcastle United striker Nick Woltemade enjoyed an excellent debut at St James’ Park as the Magpies claimed a 1-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.

However, the Toon army had their hearts in their mouth when their new striker came off in the second half.

The German international had reportedly asked to come off as he was cramping.

Woltemade played in Germany’s two international fixtures, alongside the Newcastle versus Wolves clash.

He needed a breather, and Magpies manager Eddie Howe made the right choice.

Still, Woltemade enjoyed a stellar debut for Newcastle, bagging the only goal of the game to earn the Geordies a hard-fought three points.

Newcastle have crucial fixtures coming up against Barcelona at St James’ Park and Bournemouth next weekend.

It makes sense to wrap Woltemade up in cotton wool.

The Magpies are still missing Yoane Wissa, leaving their options up top light, so they must be cautious with it.

Meanwhile, Woltemade’s overall performance was fantastic. The 23-year-old completed all eight of his attempted passes, showcasing his brilliant link-up play.

His hold-up play for the Tyneside outfit was also immaculate as he won all three of his aerial duels and three out of his four ground duels.

He had 17 touches, and four of them came inside the box.

While he did admit the Premier League is more physical than the Bundesliga, and it took its toll on him in the second half, his first Premier League outing was mint.

Although it may be a small sample size, Woltemade has immediately shown why Newcastle invested heavily in him.

The former Stuttgart man’s movement, link-up play, and clinical edge suggest he is more than capable of stepping into Alexander Isak’s shoes.

If he can build on this display, the Magpies may have already found their perfect replacement for the Swede.