Nick Woltemade: A Hero in the Making?

After a summer of chasing ST's who decided to ply their trade elsewhere the signing of Woltemade for a reported £69M came just days before the new season kicked off.

Also through the door came Wissa, after a long and protracted transfer tussle with Brentford. 19 goals in the Prem last season, none from penalties, made Wissa the obvious starting main ST over the young and Prem inexperienced Woltemade. Wissa's knee injury on international duty for D R Congo, with his debut delayed until mid/late October, meant Eddie had to blood Woltemade earlier than expected and with no pre-season training with the squad. Not ideal preparation for either Eddie or young Nick.

What complicated the situation even further was that Woltemade's playing style was completely different to Isak's. Isak had pace, wanted the ball played ahead of him down the channels and, his headed goal last season against Arsenal apart, thrived on crosses to feet in the box. For a tall guy Isak wasn't strong in the air or at holding the ball up against big defenders. Eddie and the team knew this and played to Isak's strength's.

Woltemade by comparison likes to drop deep and use his close control and passing ability to spark off attacks, lacking a burst of pace he prefers the ball to feet, has skill at playing quick short 'one two' passes and, of course, thrives on headed chances from crosses into the box.

To get the best out of Woltemade would need a big, and quick, change in our playing style or the big man could have been left in limbo; you only have to look at how Isak and Sesko have struggled to make an impact at their new clubs for exactly the same reason.

And yet... not only did Nick score in his first game with a trademark header, he now has three goals to his name and, against USG, it is clear that the undoubted hard work in training to play to his strengths is paying off. Woltemade showed the full range of his strengths; great hold up play and retaining possession with a range of short and long passing, quick 'one two's' around the box that set up chances, taking on and beating defenders, and a superb well anticipated back heel flicked goal to wrong foot the keeper from Tonali's shot. Hacks saying it was an unintended deflection need their eyes tested,

While Gordon got big headlines for his two well taken penalty goals and all round performance, Woltemade was my MOTM with a performance that signalled he could be a huge hit for NUFC. If this how well he can perform just 6 games in, how good might he be 16 or 26 in?

Have we got a potential hero and top quality striker in the making?

Comments welcome.