Newcastle United forward Nick Woltemade has launched a fierce defence of his international teammate Florian Wirtz, branding the early criticism of the Liverpool playmaker as "absurd". Wirtz, who joined the Reds for a fee of £116 million from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer, is still searching for his first goal for the club.
Woltemade's Scathing Defence of Wirtz
Speaking to German publication Stern, Woltemade did not hold back in his support for the 22-year-old. "This is a pseudo-discussion," the Newcastle star stated. "Anyone who understands something about football sees what incredible skills he has. Flo will make his way, even in the Premier League."
Woltemade's own start to life in England has been more immediately productive. The 23-year-old, who signed for Newcastle from Stuttgart for £69 million, has netted seven goals in 18 appearances across all competitions. In contrast, Wirtz has registered four assists for Liverpool, with only one of those coming in the Premier League. He thought he had broken his duck against Sunderland, but his effort was officially recorded as a Nordi Mukiele own goal.
Van Dijk's Dressing Room Support
Woltemade's public backing echoes similar sentiments expressed within the Liverpool camp. Club captain Virgil van Dijk has recently advised the young German to block out the external noise and focus on his development.
"There’s a very good reason why a club like us bought him: he’s an outstanding, world-class player in my eyes who can only become even better but it will take a bit of time," said Van Dijk. "For him he has to stay level-headed, don’t get too high, don’t get too low. Don’t get dragged into the outside world of when it’s very good or very bad and don’t get dragged into the numbers game."
The Dutch defender emphasised that Wirtz's contribution extends beyond goals and assists, highlighting his overall performance and involvement in team play.
The Road Ahead for Liverpool's Record Signing
The scrutiny on Wirtz's early output comes amid a challenging period for Liverpool, who have struggled for consistency this season. The pressure to justify a nine-figure price tag in the world's most demanding league is immense, and patience from some quarters appears to be wearing thin.
Wirtz's next opportunity to open his account for the Merseyside club arrives this weekend. Liverpool travel to face Leeds United at Elland Road on Saturday afternoon, a side buoyed by a recent 3-1 victory over Chelsea. All eyes will be on the German international to see if he can silence his critics and kickstart his Anfield career in earnest.
