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Anonymity and Nick Woltemade were already well on the way to becoming strangers but, after this, there seems zero chance of the Germany striker ever being able to blend seamlessly into the background on Tyneside.
Given that Woltemade’s awkwardly angular 6ft 6in frame is topped by a curly mop of bright blond hair and a distinctive moustache screams 1970s rock star, he was already hard to miss.
By the 29th minute here Newcastle’s £70m summer signing from Stuttgart, eliminated any prospect of invisibility by meeting Jacob Murphy’s cross before cleverly, and powerfully, heading Eddie Howe’s team into the lead.
Up until that point Woltemade had displayed some deft footwork and pleasing touches but looked, understandably, a little nervous. With his socks halfway down his shins and his gait ungainly, it became clear Alexander Isak’s replacement was an unconventional sort of striker.
Happily for Newcastle, unorthodox most certainly does not mean ineffective and as that bullet header whizzed past Sam Johnstone and all four sides of the ground sang Woltemade’s name there was a real sense of “Alexander who?”
Isak’s long, painful £125m defection to Liverpool may have ruined Newcastle’s summer but on this, admittedly early, evidence, the man dubbed “the two metre Messi” and “WolteWow” by Stuttgart could yet illuminate their winter.
With Newcastle’s other new striker, the £55m Yoane Wissa, needing to consult a specialist after injuring a knee while on international duty with DR Congo last week, Howe urgently needed an attacking focal point to help secure a first win of the season.
When Wolves started extremely brightly with the impressive right wing-back Hugo Bueno causing all sorts of problems as he succeeded in ruffling even Tino Livramento, there were fears the home side could drop further points.
Yet when Woltemade’s killer first touch cued up Jacob Murphy for a close-range shot that Johnstone performed wonders to repel from point-blank range and then as the German volleyed into the face of Yerson Mosquera, the gloom on the Gallowgate began easing.
While Howe was annoyed that Mosquera’s edge of the area, last man, foul on Harvey Barnes produced no penalty and no red card, Woltemade’s goal pierced the tension.
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The first half ended with the indomitable Sandro Tonali thumping a left-foot shot against a post but Wolves appeared on a mission to collect their first point – or points – of the season.
By the 65th minute the home debutant was starting to tire and it came as no surprise when the raising of the electronic board signalled Woltemade’s departure to a standing ovation.
Newcastle’s failure to extend their lead meant that edginess re-entered the arena, both on an off the pitch. Despite missing their injured striker, and former Newcastle target, Jørgen Strand Larsen, Wolves remained far from out of things.
Indeed, given Bueno’s continued menace, Howe had reason for relief that Strand Larsen’s achilles had failed to heal in time for involvement here. As he greeted the final whistle by walking across the pitch arm in arm with the match winner Newcastle’s manager was doubtless even happier that Woltemade was the striker he ended up with.
