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Howe blasts irrelevant criticism of Woltemade after 'idiot' jibe / Photo: © AFP
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Howe blasts irrelevant criticism of Woltemade after 'idiot' jibe
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has blasted "irrelevant" criticism of Nick Woltemade after Bayern Munich executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge ridiculed the £69 million ($92 million) fee for the Germany striker.
Howe smashed Newcastle's transfer record to bring Woltemade to St James' Park from Stuttgart on deadline day.
Bayern were also in the race to sign Woltemade, but couldn't match Newcastle's bid, prompting Rummenigge to tell Blickpunkt Sport: "I congratulate Stuttgart, because they found an idiot who paid the money we didn't want to pay in Munich."
Asked about Rummenigge's jibe, Howe insisted neither he nor Woltemade would be affected by the criticism.
"The market forces dictate transfer fees, not necessarily any one club. We're very pleased to have Nick with us," Howe told reporters ahead of Wednesday's Champions League clash at Union Saint-Gilloise.
"I think he's started very strongly in what's been a difficult period for him because he's thrust straight into action, no training time with us, really, of any note.
"I think he's done really, really well, so we're really pleased to have him with us and the transfer fee, for me, is absolutely irrelevant."
Woltemade has scored two goals in his three Premier League appearances and hopes to make a first Champions League start against the Belgian champions in Brussels.
Signed to replace Alexander Isak, who moved to Liverpool on deadline day, Woltemade could be forgiven for feeling the weight of his hefty price tag, but Howe is confident that will not be an issue.
"I don't think he's that kind of character. I don't think he necessarily over-thinks things too much, which is a really big strength," he said.
"What he's going to be judged on is how he performs in the team and what he gives to the club going forward."
Newcastle returned to Champions League action after a one-year absence with a 2-1 home defeat against Barcelona earlier in September.
Howe knows they cannot afford to underestimate Union Saint-Gilloise as they look to get back on track after Sunday's 2-1 loss against Arsenal in the Premier League.
"For any team to be at this level and to be top of the league and playing in the way that they are, they demand respect," he said.
"It's not been just one season. They were knocking on the door to win the league, then they've won the league and now they're deservedly in the Champions League, so we'll be fully focused and fully ready."
P. da Silva--JDB
