Question mark remains over future of Nick

WHEN the Newcastle United team sheet dropped against Nottingham Forest on Sunday, there was one name everybody's attention was immediately drawn towards in the City Ground’s press room.

- By SEAN MCCORMICK

Nick Woltemade and, above left, Harvey Barnes and Jacob Ramsey, who replaced the German and Jacob Murphy

Nick Woltemade hadn't started for Newcastle since the derby day defeat to Sunderland on March 22, despite relentless calls from a section of the fanbase to see the club's record signing in the starting XI.

Woltemade’s first season in English football has been confusing. He started like a train, scoring nine goals in his first three months at the club and looked as if he had taken following Alexander Isak as the club's talisman in his stride.

Then came the drop-off in form across the next month before Eddie Howe started his ill-fated two month experiment of Woltemade as a midfielder.

The Germany international splits opinion but his talent is universally recognised. The question marks have been whether his profile suits being a centre-forward or whether he is better playing as a number 10 in behind a more traditional number nine.