NICK WOLTEMADE and Dan Ballard faced an awkward reunion hours after the striker broke his Germany duck against Northern Ireland.
Newcastle’s £69m club-record signing finally got off the mark for his country by firing them to a 1-0 World Cup qualification win in Belfast on Monday.
Newcastle star Nick Woltemade was spotted on an EasyJet flight[/caption]
The £69m star netted his first goal for Germany against Northern Ireland this week[/caption]
While it was joy for him, it was a night of frustration for defender Ballard, who had an early strike ruled out for an offside and came up just short in his battle to stop the hotshot.
And just hours after the Windsor Park war the Sunderland ace got up-close-and personal again with the 6ft 6in Toon hotshot on-board an EasyJet flight.
Coincidently, the pair both jetted back from Belfast International Airport on the 10:40am plane ride to Newcastle on Tuesday.
However, it will be two months before the strapping Woltemade, who wore a cap and kept his hood up throughout the majority of the 45 minute journey on the front row, and Ballard come face-to-face again.
That will be when Newcastle travel to Sunderland’s Stadium of Light on December 13 for the Wear-Tyne derby.
Despite Woltemade’s electric start for Toon with four goals in seven games, the 23-year-old had faced fierce scrutiny in his homeland after failing to score in his first five caps for Germany.
And he admitted his relief at ending his drought after heading home, albeit via his shoulder, to inch Germany closer to spot at next summer’s World Cup.
Woltemade said: “It was very important for me to score my first international goal. Personally, I’m not happy so far with my performances for Germany.
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“It’s actually fitting that I scored with my shoulder. It was not a good game, but you have to win them, too. We got the three points, so I’m happy.”
On the importance of breaking his duck, he continued: “Yes, very significant. It sounds very good. A goal for the national team, especially for the senior A-team.
“I’ve played for many youth national teams, and to score now for the highest national team, yeah, it’s great.
“Also, especially because the last few games here weren’t exactly easy for me, maybe. That’s why I’m very happy that I was finally able to contribute a goal.
“It’s definitely more comfortable. I think for the media, it’s always quite a pleasant topic when a striker hasn’t scored a goal. For the player, not so much. Especially as a striker. That’s why, honestly, I didn’t concern myself with it that much.
“Of course, I noticed that it was coming a bit from the outside, but that’s the life of a striker – it’s often like that. That’s why it always feels good when the ball is finally in the net.
Sunderland star Dan Ballard was also on board the flight after playing against Woltemade[/caption]
“I definitely felt it, when it flew onto it, that it was my shoulder. Ultimately it doesn’t matter how it flies in. The main thing is that it’s in.”
Now the monkey is off his back, he is already gunning for more next month against Luxembourg and Slovakia to help seal the four-time world champs a place at the 2026 showpiece.
He added: “We’ll continue to work to develop further, to push our game forward, and I’m looking forward to the next training camp.”
Meanwhile, Liverpool’s £100m German playmaker Florian Wirtz struggled to make an impact against Northern Ireland.
The 22-year-old is yet to score or create an assist for Arne Slot’s side but his national team-mate David Raum backed him to come good at Anfield just like Woltemade has at Toon.
The RB Leipzig ace said: “They’re amazing players. They both have amazing abilities.
“Florian has not had the best start at Liverpool I know but he’s working hard at training and always stays long on the pitch.
“I’m sure he’s going to make his way at Liverpool and he’ll be an important player this season for me.
“Nick is already scoring for Newcastle and I’m happy to play with both of them.
“I’m very happy for Nick. He’ll keep going and scoring for Newcastle. He’ll grow there and I hope he’ll become an even better player there because we’ll need him.”
