Nick Woltemade is already streets ahead of Alexander Isak in the goalscoring charts but warns the best if yet to come
Newcastle United striker Nick Woltemade has made a new revelation about his fitness status with the Magpies after completing his first 90 minutes for the club.
Woltemade's omission from the starting line-up and withdrawal from some games have left fans puzzled about Eddie Howe's decisions. But the £69million man lifted the lid on his fitness struggles since arriving at the end of August from Stuttgart.
It is understood that Woltemade has been getting used to the pace of the Premier League compared to that of the Bundesliga. And while the 23-year-old has been pulled out of the Germany squad due to an infection, he knows he will be fit and raring to go against Brighton & Hove Albion, he said: "That was the first game I could play without cramps. For the first time in a long time, I had energy.
"We have worked on that very well; we don't have too many training sessions, so that is why it has been difficult.
"Of course, I want to come in every week and be much better."
Woltemade has taken his tally to four goals for the season in black-and-white and lifted the lid on his intense penalty dispute over in Belgium when he asked to step up against Union SG, only for Anthony Gordon to slot home instead.
Woltemade said: "I am a striker and I want to take penalties. Anthony Gordon did really well, but I just want us to score goals.
"He did it really well against Union SG. But he wasn't on the pitch, so I thought: 'OK, I will take the ball'. I am really happy I took this one."
After quickly helping to lift the gloom after Alexander Isak's departure the German is already way ahead of the Sweden star in the Premier League goalscoring chart - and after just four appearances.
Woltemade told reporters: "I've only been here four weeks, but I have a really good connection. You can see it on the pitch that I fit in really good.
"It was a big win. Second in win a row. Really important and tough game to come in. There was good energy and that was the key point.
"Now we go into the international break with two wins - that was really important to come into with a good position.
"We have good energy from the bench. We have done really well.
"When you score as a striker on the pitch the feeling is really good. The gaffer is such a good gaffer."