Nick Woltemade's latest admission to renew debate over baffling Eddie Howe decision at Newcastle

Nick Woltemade has admitted that he favours playing behind and around another striker, a role he was rarely deployed in at Newcastle United.

The 24-year-old, who cost the Magpies £69million to sign from Stuttgart last summer, has joined Juventus on loan for this season.

The Italian giants do not have the option to make the move permanent, and Newcastle will hope that he can regain his confidence in Serie A before returning to St James' Park next year.

Eddie Howe oversaw Woltemade's first season in the Premier League, and seemed to insist on deploying him as a lone striker.

While he started well and had four goals in his first five Premier League appearances, the forward would net just twice across all competitions in the new year.

Woltemade was afforded time behind the striker towards the end of the season, but it appears that Howe and Newcastle were not totally aware of the player they were signing.

Nick Woltemade 'sure' he'll grow at Juventus

The season that convinced Newcastle to sign Woltemade saw him score 17 goals in 33 games across all competitions.

Many of those games saw him play behind the striker, and many also saw him play as a centre-forward. In fact, he scored more goals playing in that more advanced role.

But what Newcastle and Howe appeared to miss was that there was always another striker. Whether it was Deniz Undav or Ermedin Demirovic, Woltemade was never situated alone.

In Howe's system, he was - only supported by two wingers but no advanced attacking midfield or striking partner to bounce off.

Howe is not to take all the blame - Yoane Wissa was injured for much of the start of the season and Will Osula was inexperienced - but his inaction continued throughout the campaign.

Woltemade was brought on for his Juventus debut last week, featuring alongside Randal Kolo Muani.

"He's helping me a lot and immediately started working closely with me to improve my game. I'm sure I'll become a better player under him," he told DAZN when asked about manager Luciano Spalletti.

"I can certainly play as a number 10 behind the striker, moving around him as I did at Stuttgart and as I've already done against Milan with Kolo Muani, but we are interchangeable," he added.

"I hope to replicate that season at Stuttgart where I scored 17 goals and won the German Cup. I'd love to achieve that here too."

Matthias Jaissle has Woltemade plan

Howe was replaced by Matthias Jaissle this summer, and while he appeared to understand Woltemade more, bringing him on alongside Wissa in the win over Tottenham, he still sanctioned the striker's loan.

"I really appreciate Nick as a player for his quality on the pitch but, also, I appreciate him as a human being and his quality off the pitch," he said last week.

"We always had good conversations, really honest conversations. He desired to take another challenge in a top league as well with a top club.

"We always had good conversations, really honest conversations. He desired to take another challenge in a top league as well with a top club.

"He will score a lot of goals there, for sure. He's still our player so we will stay in close contact."