Newcastle United's 'dangerous' Nick Woltemade warning after three-match ban & seven-game injury blow
Newcastle United are managing the fitness of club-record signing Nick Woltemade very carefully.
Newcastle United are set to rest Nick Woltemade for Wednesday night’s Carabao Cup third-round tie at home to Bradford City.
The 23-year-old has started his opening two Premier League matches against Wolverhampton Wanderers and AFC Bournemouth, though that is unlikely to have been the case had Yoane Wissa or Anthony Gordon been available.
Woltemade scored on his debut in a 1-0 win over Wolves but needed to withdraw on the hour mark after experiencing cramp. A few days later, he was then named on the bench against Barcelona as Gordon, whose suspension did not carry over into the Champions League, led the line.
The German striker was introduced for the remaining half an hour before returning to the starting line-up for the goalless draw at Bournemouth on Sunday, where he got through 80 minutes.
Another midweek game is here and Eddie Howe is unlikely to risk Woltemade as he does not want to put his new £69million club-record signing in any “dangerous positions” fitness-wise.
Newcastle United managing Nick Woltemade’s fitness carefully
Howe said: “I think Nick's made a really strong start. I think Nick will improve the fitter he gets. I think that's a huge thing, he's come to us with, obviously not being used to the demands of Premier League football and this league is relentless physically.
“And of course, our schedule is relentless, so in terms of us doing physical work with him, that's very, very difficult.
“A lot of what we're going to be doing with him in the short term is to try and keep him fit by not putting him in dangerous positions in terms of playing 90 minutes, consecutive 90 minutes too early. But fitness will be an issue because the Premier League is different, as I said.
“So I think that's the biggest thing for him. And I think once he gets fitter, you'll see an even better product.
“Yoane’s totally different case. If Yoane were available now, he'd be allowing us to work with maybe Nick's fitness in between games by sharing some of the load. But certainly we need him back and need him back quickly.”
Newcastle United issue Yoane Wissa injury update
Gordon is now back from his three-match domestic ban, which will help ease the physical load on Woltemade in upcoming matches against Arsenal, Union SG and Nottingham Forest before the international break.
But with Gordon a winger by trade, Newcastle are keen to get Wissa back at the earliest opportunity. And they hope that will be against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday, October 18.
The 29-year-old has already missed three games and will miss a further four after sustaining a knee injury on international duty with the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Providing an update on Wissa on Tuesday morning, Howe said: “He's here, and he's receiving treatment, no operation needed. Yeah, I think we're looking at the other side of the international break. We hope he can be fit and available for that first game.
“It was [a] huge [blow]. I mean, you go into the new season with your squad and you feel you've got your squad sort of settled and you've got a plan. And then, of course, we didn't even see Yoane. He's come back injured. And that was a difficult one, having outlaid the money that we have.
“We knew that Yoane was Premier League ready, as it were. You know, he knows the league inside and out and has scored goals in it. But I think, look, it happened.
“We have to deal with it. I think, touch wood, it's not a long-term injury. We get through the next few games and then he'll be back.”