Newcastle are 'underwhelming' but is Woltemade a problem?

Newcastle striker Nick Woltemade has struggled to find form in recent months, scoring just once in his past 19 appearances, and it has led to a lot of criticism of the summer signing by fans and media pundits.

BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club's panel of former Premier League defender Nedum Onuoha and Observer football correspondent Rory Smith discussed how how proportionate the blame is on Woltemade in a disappointing league campaign for the Magpies so far.

"When I saw him in Germany, everyone was talking about how he's not a traditional number nine because he's massive but not great in the air," said Onuoha. "But then his first goal for Newcastle was a header and that was probably the worst thing that could happen to him because everyone saw him as a big target man - which is really not his game.

"Technically, he is good and he doesn't stand out that much [negatively] compared to the rest of the team, or even in the league.

"Their season has been underwhelming but they are on 36 points, so it is not impossible that they could finish in seventh or eighth still. Having said that, they need to go on a great run."

Smith added: "With strikers it is easier [to criticise] if the person who is meant to be scoring goals isn't.

"But if Eddie Howe has moved him into midfield then that is an admission it is not working."

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer and listen on BBC Sounds