Eddie Howe urged Newcastle United striker Nick Woltemade to keep up the consistency after his fine start to life in English football.

Woltemade has made a big impact since joining Newcastle from Stuttgart in a big-money transfer at the end of the transfer window.

The Germany international has already netted four Premier League goals, making him the Magpies' top scorer in the competition.

Newcastle head to struggling West Ham on Sunday, and when asked if Woltemade was already proving a success, Howe replied: "Time will tell. We're really pleased with Nick – really happy with him.

"On and off the pitch, he's been first class. The way he's conducted himself, handled the move, the way he's embraced his team-mates.

"His team ethics are excellent. He's got an ability to score goals, to be in the right position.

"Technically, he's very good. We still have to bring out more in his game and help him in every way we can – the early signs are very positive.

"He's got variety in his game. I don't think he's one-dimensional. His height, but then you add in his technical ability – I think that can be a surprise for opponents.

"His challenge is consistency and long-term success. Teams will obviously work out plans for him, as we do for all our opponents, and he's got to continue to find a way to score goals."

Newcastle brought in two strikers in the summer transfer window, with Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson both departing the club, and Woltemade and Yoane Wissa joining.

Wissa, though, remains sidelined through injury, with Howe suggesting the former Brentford attacker may not be back until after the November international break.

Wilson, on the other hand, could well go up against his old club on Sunday, with the 33-year-old having joined West Ham, who sit 19th on four points.

"It will be great to see Callum but, most importantly, we have a job to do," Howe said.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

West Ham – Callum Wilson

This could be Wilson's first Premier League appearance against one of his former clubs – he has played 75 games since 2022-23 for Newcastle and West Ham, but never faced Bournemouth in that time.

The only player to have played for three or more clubs and made more appearances than Wilson (245) without facing a former side in Premier League history is Neil Sullivan (247).

Newcastle United – Bruno Guimaraes

Guimaraes has three Premier League goals in eight games in 2025-26 for Newcastle, only two fewer than he managed in 38 games last season (five).

He has ended on the winning side in 19 of the 21 matches he’s scored in (90.5%), the sixth-best ratio of any player to score in 20+ games in Premier League history.

MATCH PREDICTION: NEWCASTLE WIN

Nuno Espirito Santo has lost three of his first four Premier League games as West Ham boss, losing the last three in a row.

It is his sixth run of three defeats in a row as a Premier League manager (including across clubs), but he has never previously lost four consecutively.

Seven of Newcastle United's last 13 Premier League goals have been scored in the final 15 minutes of matches, with only one of their previous 34 beforehand scored in the 76th minute or after. 

West Ham have conceded the most goals in the Premier League this season (20), have faced the second most shots (133), and have the second worst expected goals against total (15.2).

The Hammers have made their worst start to a Premier League season after nine matches. They have never previously suffered as many as eight defeats in their opening 10 games of a league season.

Newcastle United are winless in their last seven away Premier League matches (D4 L3), failing to score in four of those games. They last had a longer away winless run between August and December 2021 (nine games).

The Magpies have lost just one of their eight Premier League away games at the London Stadium against West Ham (W5 D2), and are unbeaten in their last six visits (W4 D2).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

West Ham – 25.3%

Draw – 23.2%

Newcastle United – 51.5%