Howe will be patient as Woltemade settles in

EDDIE HOWE has insisted £69m man Nick Woltemade can handle the heat playing as a No.9 for Newcastle United - and will throw the German star in to lead the line against Arsenal tomorrow despite teething problems.

- BY LEE RYDER

Howes frontline has undergone major surgery last season, with Alexander Isak sold to Liverpool for £125m and Callum Wilson snubbing a pay-as-you-play deal on Tyneside to sign for West Ham.

Woltemade, signed from Stuttgart, got off to a flying start when heading home against Wolves two weeks ago but struggled to build on that in the drab 0-0 draw at Bournemouth and ended the game pointing to his feet for more service at the Vitality Stadium, before being hooked.

Woltemade then had a run out as a No.10 in the 4-1 Carabao Cup rout against Bradford but is likely to be asked to lead the line against Arsenal this weekend.

Howe (inset) said: “I see him as a nine. He plays it differently to other strikers we've had in the past, it is about utilising Nick's strengths.

“I was really impressed with him in the short time he had on Wednesday, he showed his creative flair.