Tonali praise as Big Nick finds it 'a bit easy'

SANDRO Tonali has made it clear that Nick Woltemade's contributions to the Newcastle United cause go way beyond scoring goals.

- By LEE RYDER Chief Newcastle writer [e-mail] @lee_ryder

The German international headed home to seal the 2-0 Carabao Cup win over Tottenham Hotspur at St James' Park to book a quarterfinal date with Fulham in December.

But Tonali, who put in a sparkling display to win man of the match against Spurs, feels that Woltemade's £69m fee is already paying dividends in other ways apart from him finding the back of the net.

Indeed, not only did Woltemade get back and help out defensively, he also hassled the Spurs rearguard and chased down everything to defend from the front in a way Alan Shearer would have been pleased with.

After the game, Tonali said: “He is so big, it is a little bit easy for him to score with his head. But he is a very good player who ran the whole game.

“He played with us, with the midfield and with the defenders. He is the first defender, and the first striker, and it is a pleasure to play with Nick. I am happy for him and happy for the team.”

Woltemade, 23, bagged his sixth goal in 11 appearances on Wednesday.