Julian Nagelsmann emphasizes Nick Woltemade must still earn Germany starting role: “We have three injured strikers.”

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Nick Woltemade finally breaking his duck for the senior German national team last night proved a relief for the Newcastle striker. If the British press is to be believed, a discussion over the 23-year-old’s capability at senior level has been settled. National team head coach Julian Nagelsmann nevertheless begged to differ. 

The Guardian led with the headline: “Woltemade cements his status as Germany’s man-of-the-moment.” The Independent congratulated Woltemade on scoring “an unorthodox, yet decisive goal.” Britain’s foremost news source –the BBC – wrote: “After the discussion in the German press about their strikers’ goal drought, Woltemade’s first international goal should be very encouraging.”

Despite the fact that the British press seems convinced, Nagelsmann felt compelled to point out – just as Woltemade’s former Bundesliga club coach did not so long ago – that the Bremen-native maintains room for improvement. Moreover, Woltemade still has competitors for his starting spot with the national team. 

“Nick should actually be a challenger [for the starting spot] with us right now, but we have three injured strikers,” Nagelsmann – referring to West Ham’s Niclas Füllkrug, Borussia Mönchengladbach’s Tim Kliendienst, and Arsenal’s Kai Havertz – remarked at last night’s post-match press conference. “He [Woltemade] worked much harder in defense, more so than in previous games.

“Nick is developing right now,” Nagelsmann continued. “We shouldn’t forget that he wasn’t nominated for the Champions League by Stuttgart in September last year. He did deserve his goal tonight.“