📂 Categoría: Football,Premier League,Hawksbee and Jacobs | 📅 Fecha: 1777311077
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Nick Woltemade’s recent struggles were to be expected, his Newcastle teammates haven’t given him enough service.
That is the view of former Arsenal and Germany goalkeeper Jens Lehmann, who has defended the Magpies’ record signing after a challenging first season in England.
Woltemade joined the Toon from Stuttgart last summer in a £69million deal to replace Alexander Isak.
He got off to a strong start at St. James’ Park, netting four times in his open five Premier League outings.
However, things have taken a turn for the worse since then, with the 24-year-old only managing three further league goals, none of which have been in 2026.
This has prompted manager Eddie Howe to tweak his position in an attempt to get the best out of him – starting him up front, in the No.10 role, and even in central midfield, but to little avail.
More recently, Woltemade has been dropped to the bench, alongside fellow summer signing Yoane Wissa, with Will Osula being preferred.
His struggles have seen him face some stinging criticism, including being branded the worst signing in Premier League history.
Taking the Nick?
Doubts have begun to emerge over Woltemade’s long-term suitability at Newcastle, and talkSPORT understands striker Nicolas Jackson is on their list of summer targets, who is set to return to Chelsea after his loan at Bayern Munich.
But Arsenal Invincible Lehmann has now defended his compatriot, who praised how quickly he adjusted to Premier League football and insisted his dip in form is inevitable for a young player.
Lehmann told talkSPORT’s Hawksbee and Jacobs: “He over-exceeded my actual expectations at the beginning of the season.
“Because normally when you come to the Premier League from a league where the football is a little bit slower, then you need to take time to adjust.
“It normally takes three, four or five months. So he did really well at the beginning.
“He probably has to recover from that a little bit because he’s still a young guy. And we don’t know his physical details. So it may come down to that.
“In terms of Germany, I hope that he’s getting better, obviously [ahead of the World Cup].
“But for a young player, I think it’s quite normal that you cannot have this level of presence and good performances throughout your first Premier League season.”
Lehmann: It’s not all Woltemade’s fault
Asked if he would persevere with Woltemade, Lehmann was adamant in his reply, insisting: “Yes, he’s a very good player.
“Considering his size, technically he’s gifted. And he’s got a fantastic presence in the box. And he will come [good].”
Lehmann then argued the blame should not lie solely with Woltemade over his recent woes.
He claimed the Germany international hasn’t been helped by his Newcastle teammates, insisting they must take responsibility for creating chances for him.
It has been a disappointing campaign for the Magpies, who sit 14th in the Premier League, and have little chance of qualifying for Europe.
Lehmann hinted at this, as he said of Woltemade: “I think sometimes for a striker in his position, you need to be waiting for good assists and good deliveries.
“It’s not only down to yourself.”
Nick Woltemade’s recent struggles were to be expected, his Newcastle teammates haven’t given him enough service.
That is the view of former Arsenal and Germany goalkeeper Jens Lehmann, who has defended the Magpies’ record signing after a challenging first season in England.
Woltemade joined the Toon from Stuttgart last summer in a £69million deal to replace Alexander Isak.
He got off to a strong start at St. James’ Park, netting four times in his open five Premier League outings.
However, things have taken a turn for the worse since then, with the 24-year-old only managing three further league goals, none of which have been in 2026.
This has prompted manager Eddie Howe to tweak his position in an attempt to get the best out of him – starting him up front, in the No.10 role, and even in central midfield, but to little avail.
More recently, Woltemade has been dropped to the bench, alongside fellow summer signing Yoane Wissa, with Will Osula being preferred.
His struggles have seen him face some stinging criticism, including being branded the worst signing in Premier League history.
Taking the Nick?
Doubts have begun to emerge over Woltemade’s long-term suitability at Newcastle, and talkSPORT understands striker Nicolas Jackson is on their list of summer targets, who is set to return to Chelsea after his loan at Bayern Munich.
But Arsenal Invincible Lehmann has now defended his compatriot, who praised how quickly he adjusted to Premier League football and insisted his dip in form is inevitable for a young player.
Lehmann told talkSPORT’s Hawksbee and Jacobs: “He over-exceeded my actual expectations at the beginning of the season.
“Because normally when you come to the Premier League from a league where the football is a little bit slower, then you need to take time to adjust.
“It normally takes three, four or five months. So he did really well at the beginning.
“He probably has to recover from that a little bit because he’s still a young guy. And we don’t know his physical details. So it may come down to that.
“In terms of Germany, I hope that he’s getting better, obviously [ahead of the World Cup].
“But for a young player, I think it’s quite normal that you cannot have this level of presence and good performances throughout your first Premier League season.”
Lehmann: It’s not all Woltemade’s fault
Asked if he would persevere with Woltemade, Lehmann was adamant in his reply, insisting: “Yes, he’s a very good player.
“Considering his size, technically he’s gifted. And he’s got a fantastic presence in the box. And he will come [good].”
Lehmann then argued the blame should not lie solely with Woltemade over his recent woes.
He claimed the Germany international hasn’t been helped by his Newcastle teammates, insisting they must take responsibility for creating chances for him.
It has been a disappointing campaign for the Magpies, who sit 14th in the Premier League, and have little chance of qualifying for Europe.
Lehmann hinted at this, as he said of Woltemade: “I think sometimes for a striker in his position, you need to be waiting for good assists and good deliveries.
“It’s not only down to yourself.”
💡 Puntos Clave
- Este artículo cubre aspectos importantes sobre Football,Premier League,Hawksbee and Jacobs
- Información verificada y traducida de fuente confiable
- Contenido actualizado y relevante para nuestra audiencia
📚 Información de la Fuente
| 📰 Publicación: | talksport.com |
| ✍️ Autor: | Martha Riley |
| 📅 Fecha Original: | 2026-04-27 17:19:00 |
| 🔗 Enlace: | Ver artículo original |
Nota de transparencia: Este artículo ha sido traducido y adaptado del inglés al español para facilitar su comprensión. El contenido se mantiene fiel a la fuente original, disponible en el enlace proporcionado arriba.
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