Newcastle United Boss Praises Woltemade's Uniqueness
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe emphasizes Nick Woltemade's individual strengths, refusing to compare him to former striker Alexander Isak.
“There will be an element of rotation. The guys that have played three games last week...”
Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe is gearing up for the team's Carabao Cup defense against Bradford City at St James' Park. Despite the difference in league standings, Howe is wary of the threat posed by Bradford, who have shown strong form in League One. “I always enjoy the games and always enjoy preparing the games. The matches are what we are here for. We embrace every competition we are in and the EFL Cup is a competition that we love, so we are desperate to do well again,” Howe said, emphasizing his team's enthusiasm for the competition.
“There will be an element of rotation. The guys that have played three games last week, we might look to give them a rest but we want to pick a strong team and want to progress so we have to get the balance right.
“We also don't want players to lose rhythm so that is really important too.”
Newcastle United's Carabao Cup Match Against Bradford City
Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe is gearing up for the team's Carabao Cup defense against Bradford City at St James' Park. Despite Bradford's strong League One performance, Howe has fond memories of the competition, saying, “The experiences that we have been through in the competition and not just last year, two seasons ago, were memorable to say the least. They are some of my strongest memories of success. The semi-finals, the whole experience of the competition - I think it's a great one.“ This enthusiasm reflects Newcastle's determination to make a deep run in the tournament.
Back in Carabao Cup action tomorrow! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/GmPrOyAutq
— Newcastle United (@NUFC) September 23, 2025
Bradford City's Progress Under Graham Alexander
Bradford City has made significant strides under the management of Graham Alexander, who took charge in November 2023. Alexander's leadership has transformed the team, evident in their recent performances. He expressed delight at the fans' support after a 1-0 win over Bromley, highlighting the crucial role of the crowd in motivating the players. With a strong squad and smart tactics, Bradford City is pushing for automatic promotion in League One.
“I think because you are going into it early in the season as well, it has a freshness to it, but we are up against tough opponents, they are doing very well in their league, and they are on a strong winning run. They have beaten two Championship teams to get to this point so full credit to them and Graham Alexander.
“He is someone I know well having managed him myself, and it is great to see him going into management in the way that he has done. He is very experienced and has over 500 games under his belt and he is doing very well.
“Knowing him as I do, I know he will have done his work on us as well so I think you can expect two very well organised teams.
“They have got clear strengths, they are playing with confidence and they are physically a very good team. Anyone who is winning games regularly and top of their league will be a threat so we will pick a strong team.”
On being Cup holders, he also stated: “It is nice, it has got a nice feel about it. It is something that we acknowledge and we want to respect that by trying to do our best to go on another good run.
“As we found last year, the early rounds are very difficult. We played Wimbledon and it was a very difficult game, a 1-0 win and it was the same two years before. We squeezed through against Tranmere - they are tough games.
“We fully respect every opponent and these early rounds are so important that you just try and find a way to get through.”
"They've got a unique style and it's working for them."
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 23, 2025
Eddie Howe praises Bradford City and their impressive run in League One 👏 pic.twitter.com/6mBV7XQkhY
No Comparisons, Please
Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe is hesitant to compare young striker Nick Woltemade to former center-forward Alexander Isak. “I don't think any comparison to Alex is favourable to any player because I wouldn't do that in other positions,” Howe said. He emphasized the uniqueness of each player, adding, “Every player is unique in their own right and Nick is certainly that.”
Howe's comments highlight his focus on developing Woltemade's individual strengths rather than drawing direct comparisons to other players. By doing so, Howe aims to create a positive environment for Woltemade to grow and contribute to the team.
“I thought overall he had a decent game (against Bournemouth) and I think some of his link-play and build-up was really good. He was a focal point in the game that we needed and enabled us to get higher up the pitch and I thought he contributed in a number of ways.
“As a team, we didn't function particularly well in the attacking half, there is no denying that. We weren't creating chances for him and to a degree, as a centre-forward, you are reliant on that service and we didn't provide him with enough. The team has to take responsibility for that and we have to take responsibility for that.
“As I said a second ago, I see no reason why we won't score goals.”
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe provided a positive update on Yoane Wissa's injury status, saying, “He's receiving treatment and no operation is needed. We're looking at the other side of the international break. We hope he can be fit and available for that first game.” This suggests Wissa is targeting a return in early October, potentially making his debut against Brighton & Hove Albion on October 18. Given the injury occurred during DR Congo's World Cup qualifiers, Wissa will likely miss several key matches, including Newcastle's Champions League fixture against Barcelona.
Wissa's absence puts pressure on Newcastle's attacking options, with fellow new signing Nick Woltemade potentially taking on a more prominent role. Despite the setback, Newcastle remains hopeful that Wissa will be fit for the Brighton match, which would give them a boost ahead of their Champions League fixture against Benfica.
Team News and Potential Lineup Changes
Howe plans to rotate his starting XI, giving opportunities to fringe players while keeping some senior figures involved.
Players Likely to be Rested
Nick Pope, Dan Burn, Tino Livramento, and Sandro Tonali might be rested after playing the last three games.
Fabian Schar, Yoane Wissa, and Jacob Ramsey are ruled out due to injuries.
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