Newcastle paid £124m for Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa but the duo are fighting with each other for a place rather than forming a partnership
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe, with Yoane Wissa (left) and Nick Woltemade (right)(Image: )
Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe says that Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa are fighting it out for a shirt – insisting that he is more interested in competition for places than the duo forming a partnership together in attack.
Woltemade’s game-time has been reduced since Wissa shook off a knee injury that ruled him out of the first hafl of the season. And while the pair teamed up in attack against AFC Bournemouth in the FA Cup third round, they have since become part of a squad rotation.
Howe said: “It’s actually a good thing for both players that they’re both fit and available and able to contribute. From my side, I see it as a huge positive for both players.
“You almost want the whole team feeling this by the way, not just those two players, but the whole team feeling that one bad performance can cost them their place in the team.
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“I think that’s when teams play the best that they can, when everyone’s pushing, and everyone’s aware of the strength of the group.”
Howe is delighted with Wissa’s contributions so far with the striker scoring his third goal for the club against PSV and also weighing in with an assist for Anthony Gordon.
Howe said: “I think his attitude is really refreshing, he’s very motivated to play. He’s got real passion and enthusiasm inside of him that’s desperate to come out and that only comes out by playing football.
“He’s desperate to show everyone how good he is, he’s desperate to score goals, which is always the most important quality in a centre-forward.
“He’s got great qualities that we can use. He took his goal really well on Wednesday, it was a typical striker’s finish. I think every time he’s played he’s looked like scoring, he’s got chances, which again is a great thing, so I’m very happy with him.
“He’ll get better as he plays more, just getting that balance right between playing and resting because he’s still in the early stages of coming back.”
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