EDDIE Howe doesn’t want Newcastle to sell Nick Woltemade or Yoane Wissa this summer, despite the duo’s struggle so far on Tyneside.
Woltemade made a blistering start to life at Newcastle but hasn’t started a Premier League game as a striker since January, while Wissa has made just four league starts in a campaign heavily disrupted by injury and fitness issues.
Anthony Gordon was preferred up-front for a spell earlier this year before Will Osula took his chance, with the in-form Dane set to start again tomorrow at Nottingham Forest.
But Howe insists he hasn’t written Woltemade and Wissa off and insists he believes they’ll still be Newcastle players at the start of next season.
He said: “Yes, I do. It’s difficult for me to give absolute certainty to that because the players themselves will have a big say in that as well, but my wish is that they are both here.
“I really think they’ve got outstanding qualities, I think they can make a difference. They’re very different players, of course, I wouldn’t compare them, but I think they can really help the team.”
For all this has been a challenging and disappointing season for the pair, Howe still believes they can shine for Newcastle in the future.
“Yeah, I said the same consistently all season,” he said.
“For a lot of the new players I think their best performances are ahead of them. I think they’re all very very good players, they just need a bit of time, patience, work on the training pitch and of course then the players have to deliver but I’m confident that they are all outstanding players.”
While Woltemade and Wissa have been out of favour of late, Howe says makes sure both players know they haven’t been forgotten about.
He said: “It’s the same with any player. Communication is really important and I spend a lot of time and effort to communicate regularly with the players and try and tell them what I want.
“Obviously I’m very vocal and involved on the training pitch to try and help a player acclimatise and know what’s requited of them on the pitch. I think that’s really important. I don’t believe in big silences and leaving the players alone too much. I want to be actively helping them. That’s always been my style and I’d love to think that won’t change.”