Nick Woltemade admission he kept quiet before Newcastle debut as unseen media ploy pays off

The £69million man is off and running but the build-up to the big moment was not without its fair share of apprehension

Newcastle United broke their transfer record to land Nick Woltemade at £69m just before deadline day.

Given the intense media scrutiny surrounding Alexander Isak's sale to Liverpool and the mass coverage of the £130m transfer, it would have been easy for Eddie Howe, his backroom team and the club's media staff to go big with Woltemade's unveiling.

At a club in which Alan Shearer was once presented to 15,000 supporters outside the Leazes End in 1996 then Michael Owen inside St James' Park in 2005, the celebration of big-money arrivals is actually part of club tapestry.

But marketing a transfer correctly must also be factored into the modern game and given there are plenty of insiders who have lived to tell the tale of Joelinton's arrival as no.9 as the club record deal at £40m in 2019, great care was taken on Woltemade.

Still just 23, Woltemade was shielded from a big press conference in front of reporters and a hungry North-East media pack in the build-up to the clash against Wolves.

The club also made the decision to hold him back from taking part in a number of interviews with rights-holders and instead his team-mate Jacob Ramsey took on the responsibilities at the Dakota Hotel on the Quayside.

In short, Eddie Howe was keen to reduce the pressure on Woltemade with just four days to prepare for Wolves and the 6ft 6in centre-forward returning from Germany duty.

Putting aside inevitable questions on being the next Alan Shearer or replacing Alexander Isak, Woltemade has already been the victim of some bitter swipes by Bayern Munich figures who should know better.

After being unwilling to pay the price on the ticket, Uli Hoeness, Mario Basler and Philipp Lahm have all stuck the boot in on the Germany Under-21 star of last summer's Euros.

Such hostility also brings unwanted pressure but Woltemade rammed those words down the throats of the Bayern legends one by one.

Woltemade was one of the first players to arrive at St James' Park before the game and with no wins on the board at Newcastle this season there was apprehension in the air.

As the cameras flashed, Woltemade looked like he could feel some of that apprehension in the cool autumnal air as he made his way through to the dressing room area.

Afterwards, Woltemade admitted to reporters: "I was a bit nervous before the game, but when the game starts, you concentrate on the pitch.

"You just play football and don't think about it much."

However, Woltemade said to assembled media in the post-game mixed zone he felt much better after seeing the net bulge at the Leazes End, and that he couldn't have asked for more.

He went on: "It felt amazing, just all the fans, everybody was happy, I was happy.

"Of course, right now, if you've won the game, that's more important also. I'm very happy about it."

Newcastle took the precaution of getting Woltemade off early as they prepare for Barcelona without Yoane Wissa next week and with striking options low.

Woltemade said: "I have to adapt to this league, I was cramping a bit so I said maybe it is better I went out then.

"I want to give a good spirit, and if I feel I can't give the energy anymore, maybe it is better to take me off.

"It is faster and the duels are more intense; the Premier League is the highest for intensity, so I keep working on it."

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