Nick Woltemade January recall truth as Newcastle United encounter big £121m issue
Nick Woltemade has scored double the amount of Newcastle United’s three strikers so far this season.
Nick Woltemade scored his first Serie A goal as Juventus twice came from behind to earn a 2-2 draw away to Fiorentina.
The 6ft 6in German striker equalised in the 32nd minute after Juventus had fallen behind to Mateo Pellegrino's early opener. However, he was among three players substituted shortly after Alieu Nije restored Fiorentina's lead in the 54th minute.
Juventus eventually rescued a point through Brazilian defender Bremer, but neither side could find a winner during the closing stages.
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Despite continuing to receive mixed reviews from the Italian media, Woltemade's numbers make for decent reading. His three goals in the Europa League, combined with Sunday's strike, take his tally to four goals in just seven starts.
No Nick Woltemade recall clause as NUFC strikers struggle
Indeed, that is twice as many goals as Newcastle's current crop of strikers have managed in the Premier League this season. Will Osula and Yoane Wissa have each found the net once, while £51million summer signing Matias Fernandez-Pardo is still waiting for his first goal.
With goals proving difficult to come by for the Magpies' strikers, Woltemade's form in Italy is unlikely to go unnoticed. However, a January return to Tyneside is not on the agenda, with his season-long loan agreement containing no recall clause.
The 24-year-old joined Newcastle from Stuttgart last year in a club-record £64million deal but, after a blistering start in which he scored six goals from his first six shots on target, he finished the campaign with 11 goals.
The appointment of fellow German Matthias Jaissle as head coach appeared to offer Woltemade the opportunity for a fresh start at St James' Park, having been trialled out of position in midfield under Eddie Howe. But instead, he was allowed to leave for Juventus, with his departure helping to fund Fernandez-Pardo's arrival from Lille.
Despite sanctioning his departure, Jaissle has not closed the door on Woltemade's Newcastle career. The striker is expected to return to Tyneside next summer, with Juventus having neither an obligation nor an option to make his move permanent.
“I really, really appreciate Nick,” Jaissle said previously. “As a player, for his quality on the pitch, but also I appreciate him as a human being and his quality off the pitch.
“We had always good conversations, really honest conversations, and he decided now to take another challenge in a top league as well, with a top club, and we will be monitoring him and looking and seeing him quite closely.
“I'm really curious how he's doing and I'm really optimistic that he will shine there. He will score a lot of goals there for sure, and he's still our player, so therefore we will for sure stay in close contact.”