Just how do United get the best out of Nick?

IT SEEMS strange to think Newcastle need to find a solution to get the best out of Nick Woltemade.

- By SEAN MCCORMICK

After all, the Germany international has already scored six goals for Newcastle since his summer arrival for a £69million club record fee from Stuttgart.

But in the last couple of Premier League matches, United have struggled to get him involved in the game.

The one time they did get the ball to him in the box against Brentford, his deft flick set up Harvey Barnes for the Magpies’ opening goal.

There are a few explanations for this. First of all, he has played in all 14 matches Newcastle have had since his arrival and is one of the few positions in the side Howe has struggled to be able to rotate.

That looks like it has started to take its toll in recent weeks.

Woltemade also tends to drop deep a lot for the ball and when Newcastle have wingers like Anthony Gordon and Anthony Elanga with the pace to get in behind defences to exploit the spaces, that is an effective trait.

On Sunday, he was coming deep but Jacob Murphy and Harvey Barnes are more deliberate with their actions.

Both players want to take a touch and find a cross or a shot, rather than beat a man and look to constantly run in behind. It seemed like a mismatch of styles.