Newcastle “revelation” can help Woltemade hit Isak levels

Newcastle United will host Nottingham Forest at St James’ Park on Sunday afternoon, looking to secure their first Premier League win since the 13th of September, when they beat Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Eddie Howe’s side are coming into the game off the back of a win in the Champions League. They overcame Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise, winning 4-0 thanks to two penalties from Anthony Gordon, a first-half strike from Nick Woltemade and a late goal from Harvey Barnes.

As for their opponents, Forest are yet to win under Ange Postecoglou. They’ve lost four of the six games their new manager has taken charge of, conceding 13 goals. One man who will be hoping to add to that tally on Sunday is Woltemade.

Woltemade’s start to his Newcastle career

It wasn’t necessarily going to be easy for Germany international Woltemade to hit the ground running in a Newcastle shirt. He joined for a club-record £69m, and was essentially replacing Alexander Isak, who would later join Liverpool.

Yet, the 23-year-old has taken to life at St James’ Park like a duck to water. The former Stuttgart striker has only played six games and 338 minutes for the club, but has found the back of the net three times already.

One man who has been impressed with Woltemade’s short Newcastle career so far is club legend Alan Shearer. Talking on The Rest Is Football Podcast, the Premier League’s all-time top goalscorer said “I like what I see” from the German’s performances to date.

Woltemade made the perfect impression on his debut for the club. His first goal came in that aforementioned 1-0 win over Wolves at home last month.

He used his six-foot-seven frame to his advantage, rising highest to meet a well-delivered cross into the box.

Interestingly, the man who delivered that ball into the middle could return to the starting line-up on Sunday to help form an unstoppable partnership against Forest.

Howe’s secret weapon vs. Forest

Magpies boss Howe is certainly not short of options in attack this week against Postecoglou’s side. The Englishman could call upon Gordon and Anthony Elanga once again, who started in the Champions League. Alternatively, Barnes could get the nod from the start.

Another name in contention for a starting berth against Forest has to be Jacob Murphy. It was the 30-year-old who delivered that cross for Woltemade against Wolves to get his first Premier League assist of the season.

He’s coming off the back of a fantastic campaign in 2024/25, in which Jamie Carragher described him as a “revelation” out wide.

In 35 top-flight appearances last season, the London-born attacker scored eight goals and assisted 12.

Not only was he extremely proficient last season, but the former Norwich City star put up some excellent underlying numbers.

For example, he created an average of 1.6 chances and completed 0.9 crosses on average per 90 minutes.

He also struck up an excellent partnership with Liverpool’s new number nine, Isak. According to Transfermarkt, the pair combined for 13 goals in the last two seasons across all competitions, a relationship which proved to be extremely effective for the Magpies.

Already, we’re seeing a similar dynamic play out between Murphy and his new teammate, Woltemade. The winger’s pinpoint cross onto the German striker’s head is a positive start, with the Newcastle record signing showing excellent centre-forward play in the penalty box.

This is a partnership that could hurt Forest on Sunday afternoon. Under Postecoglou, those donning Garibaldi Red have shown vulnerability at the back.

If Howe chooses to unleash Murphy alongside Woltemade, they could look to capitalise on that defensive frailty in a similar way to the goal against Wolves, and the relationship between Isak and Murphy.

There are certainly positive signs in that sense for Newcastle, and if the winger can get Woltemade playing like Isak, starting from Sunday, that will be a huge benefit.