Newcastle United's £69m goal machine withdraws from Germany squad - here's why
Nick Woltemade will not travel to Germany’s headquarters today due to a flu virus.
Nick Woltemade has been left out of Germany’s squad for upcoming games against Luxembourg and Northern Ireland.
A statement released by the German FA confirmed the 23-year-old is suffering from the flu. That news may come as a surprise as, less than 24 hours ago, Woltemade was firing on all cylinders against Nottingham Forest.
Newcastle’s club-record signing missed a sitter, rattled the crossbar and scored a penalty to help earn a 1-0 win. He also conducted several post-match interviews and appeared in good spirits at the full-time whistle.
Germany release statement
Germany have surprisingly revealed why Woltemade will not travel to the team headquarters on Monday. The announcement read: “National team player Nick Woltemade will not be joining the German national team this Monday.
“The striker for English Premier League club Newcastle United, who scored his third goal for Newcastle in Sunday's 2-0 home win over Nottingham Forest, will not travel to the national team's headquarters at DFB partner Adidas in Herzogenaurach due to a flu infection.”
Eddie Howe on Nick Woltemade
Ahead of the Forest win, Howe revealed his gut instinct about Woltemade and whether he could handle the Premier League pressure. He told reporters: “It’s never lost on me, the psychology factor, the responsibility that comes with the position. Not everybody can take that here. I felt immediately when I spoke to him, he could. That’s sometimes a gut feel rather than any statistical data that you can get.
“You look historically, the players in that position that have had the best careers here have all had that ability to absorb pressure and go, maybe, games without scoring but still retain that belief in themselves. Ultimately, it comes down to that inner drive and that inner self-belief, it’s absolutely crucial for any player in that position.”
Bruno Guimaraes on Alexander Isak comparison
When asked about the differences between playing with Woltemade and Alexander Isak, Bruno Guimaraes told NewcastleWorld: “It is different. They’re different players, both great players but I’ve never seen a player this tall be so good with the ball.
“He controls the ball and controls the tempo. He can play as a midfielder, to be fair. I’m pleased for him. It’s just the beginning. I hope he is enjoying his journey so far. Everyone at the club is happy with him. Most importantly, the fans.”