Newcastle United’s Premier League season was three games old when Wolves arrived on Saturday, but it may as well have been the opening day.
With no striker for Eddie Howe to pick, Newcastle were winless. Callum Wilson had departed on a free transfer and Alexander Isak was refusing to play in order to force a move to Liverpool, which he finally got on deadline day.
Numerous striker targets – including Liam Delap, Joao Pedro, Hugo Ekitike and Benjamin Sesko – opted against moving to St. James’ Park.
But then Nick Woltemade arrived for a club record £69m; the 23-year-old German has become a star during the last year at Stuttgart, and after fellow new signing Yoane Wissa was confirmed to be out with a knee injury, he was in line to start.