EDDIE HOWE SHUTS DOWN BBC GOSSIP REGARDING NICK WOLTEMADE’S NEWCASTLE FUTURE
Eddie Howe slams "unhappy" rumours! Discover why Nick Woltemade feels at home at Newcastle despite BILD and BBC transfer gossip.
Eddie Howe isn’t having any of it; he’s shot down the rumours that Nick Woltemade wants out of Newcastle United.
You might’ve seen it: some German journalist, Raimund Hinko, tossed out the idea in BILD that Woltemade’s unhappy on Tyneside and would rather be back at Stuttgart or maybe Bayern Munich. Then the BBC’s gossip column picked it up, slapped on a catchy line, and suddenly everyone’s talking about it. The story even landed back with Howe, who, let’s be honest, has probably heard enough transfer gossip to last him a lifetime.
Sure, Woltemade’s had his ups and downs this season. That happens. But he’s already hit double digits in his first year, and lately, he’s looked right at home in a new, deeper role. So when talk started swirling about him being miserable at Newcastle, Howe didn’t hesitate to set the record straight.
“He seems really, really happy,” Howe said. “What you see is what you get with Nick, always laughing, a great presence in the dressing room. He and Malik Thiaw have gotten pretty close, which is good to see. And honestly, everyone likes him. The squad really respects him and loves his attitude, and he’s always about the team.
“He’s just a good guy. Doesn’t take himself too seriously; he fits right in. So, when I hear these reports that he’s unhappy, it just doesn’t match the player I know.
“And on the pitch, he’s looked great lately. I’m really happy with what he’s doing. He’s performing at a high level, no issues at all.”
And it’s not just Howe saying so. Woltemade himself spoke to GQ and made it clear he feels like he belongs at Newcastle. After that brutal own goal against Sunderland in December, he braced himself for the worst. But instead of criticism, he found nothing but support from the fans.
“It was an awful feeling,” Woltemade admitted. “I’d never scored an own goal before, especially not in that match. Sitting on the bench after getting subbed, I thought the fans would destroy me. But when I checked my phone, it was just positive messages.
“That helped me a lot. I know how much that game meant to everyone. I was so grateful. It showed me I’m in the right place.”
And he bounced back fast. The next week, he scored twice in a 2-2 draw with Chelsea, and St James’ Park was singing his name.
“The whole crowd was singing for me – unbelievable. That own goal could’ve wrecked my season, but instead, the fans lifted me. It turned out to be the best feeling.”
PRESSURE PEAK: EDDIE HOWE REJECTS EXCUSES AS NEWCASTLE FACE A SEASON-DEFINING MARCH STRETCH
Eddie Howe is fighting back: Read why the Newcastle boss rejects schedule excuses and how the Magpies plan to stun Barcelona.
Eddie Howe isn’t having any of the usual excuses about a packed schedule if Newcastle’s 2025/26 season fizzles out. Right now, that’s pretty close to what’s happening in the Premier League.
Meanwhile, over on Warwick Street in Heaton, the road’s shut after a crash.
Newcastle’s been busy in Barcelona away, with big FA Cup ties against Man City. Sure, those sound exciting, but if the cup runs end early (and most bookies seem to think they will), Newcastle faces an uphill battle to save their league campaign.
If they weren’t in the cup competitions, people would probably accuse the team of checking out early, already thinking about the summer holidays. The season could still end in glory, but if they’re not careful, they’ll slip into the bottom half of the table.
Howe isn’t sugarcoating the pressure. “I hate calling anything impossible,” he said. “That just hands everyone an excuse. Yeah, it’s tough. Our schedule this year makes the one from two years ago look like a breeze.
“It’s really stretched the players’ fitness, our resources, our energy, everything. No doubt, some guys have gone into games running on empty.
“I know we’re a good side. We’ve made progress. But sometimes it feels like just when we’re moving forward, we get knocked back.”
Howe’s not thrilled about the recent run of five losses in six. “A blip like this doesn’t feel normal. It hurts. We’re always trying to give the fans what they want, and lately, we just haven’t.”
Still, a couple of years ago, Newcastle would’ve jumped at the chance to play this kind of schedule. Up next: Man United, Man City in the FA Cup, Barcelona, Chelsea, and a trip to the Nou Camp. Sunderland rounds out March, a stretch that could shape not just this season but the future of St James’ Park.
How’s the message? “You look at the fixtures; you’ve got to stay positive. We have to enjoy these games. Can’t play scared.
“We have to go after them, stay aggressive, and keep our heads up.
“A few years back, if you’d told us these were our next matches, we’d have bitten your hand off for it. Well, here we are.
“So let’s not look back. Eyes forward.”
THE WOLTEMADE MYSTERY: WHY DID EDDIE HOWE PULL HIM AFTER ONLY 25 MINUTES?
Newcastle 3-2 Everton: Read Eddie Howe’s reaction to Nick Woltemade’s 14-touch nightmare and the 12-point Champions League gap.
Eddie Howe didn’t hide his frustration after Newcastle’s rough 3-2 loss to Everton. He admitted they just couldn’t get Nick Woltemade involved; he barely touched the ball before Howe pulled him off after only 25 minutes up front.
Woltemade, the club’s £69 million signing, started in midfield, but it just didn’t click. He got shifted into attack in the second half, but that didn’t work either. After just 14 touches, Howe went back to Anthony Gordon leading the line.
Asked about Woltemade’s quiet night, Howe told Chronicle Live, “We moved things around trying to find a spark. Honestly, we didn’t start well and gave up an early goal. The guys needed new energy, especially after halftime, which was our best spell. But with Nick, we just couldn’t get him on the ball enough, even after moving him up front. He wasn’t getting touches or really getting involved near the goal. That’s why I had to make those changes.”
Now Newcastle’s Premier League season is in real trouble. They’re 12 points off the Champions League spots and fighting just to reach the Europa Conference League unless they pull off something big in the FA Cup or Champions League.
Howe owned up to the team’s slump. “Yeah, in the Premier League, our form just hasn’t been good enough for a while. We know it, and we take responsibility. It’s really frustrating. That’s part of playing in Europe, but we’ve tried to go all-in on every game and treat them all as important. With so many games, though, focus slips. Our league results lately just haven’t been anywhere near what they used to be. Home form used to be so reliable, but that’s dropped off too. We need to get that back fast. St James’ Park should be where we collect the most points, the place where players feel free to play. Lately, that just hasn’t happened.”
Howe even ended up taking Gordon off, which didn’t go over well; some boos rang out after Gordon lost the ball and Everton scored the winner.
“I honestly didn’t notice that,” Howe said, about the crowd’s reaction. “But when that happens, we’ve got to stick together. I’ll back him, and I hope the fans do too.”
