Howe Stands Firm on Woltemade's Midfield Role Despite Nagelsmann's Scepticism

Eddie Howe isn't budging on his conviction that Nick Woltemade can operate effectively as a central midfielder for Newcastle, much to Julian Nagelsmann's visible displeasure.

The £69million arrival has found himself shunted deeper into midfield during the second half of the campaign as injury ravaged the Magpies' engine room. With skipper Bruno Guimaraes sidelined since February nursing a hamstring complaint, and Sandro Tonali oscillating between the treatment table and the squad sheet, Howe has repeatedly called upon the Germany international to plug the gap.

Nagelsmann, however, made his reservations crystal clear ahead of the recent international break. "He has often played very deep," the national team boss remarked to reporters. "When he has to defend as a No. 6, there's a long distance to goal. He's not a counter-attacking striker who runs 36 km/h. I can promise that he won't be 80 metres away from goal with us."

Howe's response? Versatility is a virtue. Speaking to Chronicle Live, the Newcastle manager outlined his reasoning: "I think it is a great thing for everybody. For us, if you have versatile players, it gives you a lot more choice and options on how you play – especially when you have injuries in your squad. It is almost imperative we have that. From the players' perspective, I think it is great for their learning. It is potentially great for their careers."

The boss drew parallels with Joelinton's positional transformation since arriving on Tyneside, though he stopped short of suggesting Woltemade would follow an identical career trajectory. "You have seen with Joelinton that changing position has transformed his career and it has been a real positive for him," Howe explained. "That won't always be the case with every player, and players will also have their preference on where they play. But I think we have some great lads who are willing to play anywhere."

The whole saga has become a talking point back in Germany, with the former Stuttgart forward addressing the matter himself during the international window. Speaking to Bild, Woltemade appeared somewhat frustrated by the narrative surrounding his repositioning. "It bothers me," he said. "If someone claims that I'm in a slump, I'd argue that this person doesn't watch many Newcastle games."

The 26-year-old went on to explain the obvious: "I know people associate me with goals, but you can't compare a striker's tally with that of a midfielder playing 50, 60, 70 meters from the opponent's goal. I'm currently a completely different Nick Woltemade than I was at the start of the season. Right now, I should be judged by how I handle duels or secure space."