'I like what I see': Alan Shearer is very encouraged by start Nick Woltemade has made at Newcastle United
If anyone knows about the pressure of leading the line for Newcastle United, it's the Premier League's all-time highest goal scorer, Alan Shearer.
The former Newcastle number 9 was absolutely prolific during his time at St James' Park, and as a lifelong Newcastle fan, he knows better than anyone what it means to wear the shirt.
So if players are going to listen to anyone about life at Newcastle, then Alan Shearer is the man.
Thankfully for Nick Woltemade, if he's going to listen to Alan Shearer, he's only going to hear good things, as the 55-year-old has been very impressed with what he's seen so far from the German.
Alan Shearer has been impressed with Nick Woltemade's early contributions
Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Shearer responded to Gary Lineker, saying that he must be encouraged by what he's seen of Woltemade so far.
"I like what I see at the minute. I think everyone has to adjust because they've been used to playing a certain way and I think with this guy, it's slightly different.
"He is a target man, you can bring him into play maybe a lot more than you could with Alex [Isak], and that ball over the top might not be on as much. He needs crosses into the box, obviously, and I think they've took their time to get the balance right.
"I thought last night (Wednesday) was the perfect way to play when you've got him; when you've got two flying machines as wingers in [Anthony] Elanga and [Anthony] Gordon. I thought the balance last night between the three of them, and with him getting another goal, that's three goals he's got now.
"Clever little goal, I didn't realise it was him that had that flick until the replays. Clever wasn't it, it wasn't a fluke and you could see what he was trying to do."
Eddie Howe is hoping to add new strings to Nick Woltemade's bow
Eddie Howe admitted this morning that they are still working on Woltemade's game, trying to add things to it that perhaps he didn't have in his locker before.
When he arrived at Newcastle, Woltemade downplayed his heading ability, insisting that despite his height, he's better with the ball on the deck, but we imagine that's one of the things Howe is desperate to change.
The fact that Woltemade's first two goals for the club were scored with his head, we'd say he's already on the way to being the exact type of striker Newcastle needs.
