Imagine Harry Kane transforming into a versatile midfielder at Bayern Munich; that’s the scenario playing out in Germany with Newcastle’s Nick Woltemade, their World Cup No. 9.

Recent performances suggest he won’t be stepping into Toni Kroos’s shoes anytime soon. As Alan Shearer remarked on Match of the Day, Woltemade is “really, really struggling,” though he also acknowledged his potential.

In automotive terms, Woltemade is more akin to a VW camper than a BMW 3 Series. Like the camper, he offers ample headroom, aesthetic appeal, and a nostalgic charm. Yet, questions linger about whether he’s built for the fast-paced chaos of the Premier League, suggesting he may be better suited for the Bundesliga.

“There should be concern,” notes journalist Patrick Strasser, who covers the German national team. “They’ll watch with some fear, as there’s a risk he won’t find his rhythm or playing time as a No. 9, the role Julian Nagelsmann envisions for him. It’s not ideal, and it seems Newcastle doesn’t trust him in that position.”

Speculation arose about Eddie Howe’s plans for Woltemade after he was substituted at halftime during a 3-1 loss to Manchester City on February 4. Many thought he might shift to a No. 10 role, but that wasn’t the case.

Striker Nick Woltemade has struggled to adapt to playing as a central midfielder for Newcastle

He struggled in midfield and then later in attack during Saturday’s 3-2 home defeat by Everton

Instead, the forward, for whom Newcastle paid a club-record £69 million as a successor to Alexander Isak, has been deployed as a No. 8 in the last five matches. According to Howe, who has faced numerous questions about this tactical shift, this arrangement is likely to continue.

The tactical shift, as well as Woltemade’s form and future, has split supporters and observers. Some see his potential, some his limitations, and both sides are debated with an aggravation perhaps missing in Woltemade’s own game. But there are others in Germany who are more relaxed, such as Christian Falk, the head of football at leading tabloid Bild.

‘He is not such a typical striker anyway,’ says Falk. ‘We don’t have one, certainly not like Miroslav Klose, who was always there at the point of the attack. We’re not saying, “Oh God, that’s horrible, they’re destroying our striker in the Premier League!”. It’s not like when Pep Guardiola had the great idea of playing Robert Lewandowski on the left wing.

‘Woltemade has played deeper before, or behind a striker. The most important thing is him getting more minutes and staying in the team. The bigger worry is if he does not play at all.’

Before the injury to Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes earlier this month, Woltemade was out of the team. It led to reports of him being unhappy and seeking a return to Germany.

Daily Mail Sport understands he has not communicated any such feelings to Newcastle and, on the contrary, has shown a willingness to adapt and learn. For now, all sources are aligned on him being a Newcastle player next season. Falk has the same feeling, despite Bayern Munich’s admiration and attempt to sign him in the summer.

‘Bayern always have an eye on his development,’ says Falk, impeccably connected inside Bayern. ‘But there is no contact and no idea of bringing him back this summer. This could be a question for the future, but he would be too expensive at the moment.

‘I have heard that if Woltemade did not feel comfortable or confident with his situation then he could go to the manager or owners of Newcastle and they would react, if he wanted a transfer. But this has not happened, and there has been no contact with any of the top clubs in Germany.’

He was wanted by Bayern Munich last summer who wanted to play him behind Harry Kane

Bayern walked away from a deal to sign Woltemade from Stuttgart when the asking price went north of £50m. By the time Newcastle entered a one-horse race in late August they were desperate, given the proximity to the window’s finishing line. He arrived as a No 9 and scored five from six starts. Interestingly, though, it was never Bayern’s intention to play him as a striker.

‘Bayern’s plan was to use him with Harry Kane,’ says Strasser. ‘It was not to build him as a future No 9 for when Kane leaves. No, they wanted to play him behind Kane.’

It is necessity that means he is Germany’s central striker, but Woltemade has responded with four goals for his country this season. Were the World Cup to start tomorrow, say both Falk and Strasser, he would be in the XI.

So, how does Germany view Woltemade, a player who had one breakthrough season in Germany before his move?

‘We had lots of hype about Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz, but Woltemade does not have this,’ says Falk. ‘Everyone is happy that we have him because he is seen as a very humble guy. But he’s not one of the top stars of German football at the moment. We are still waiting for a real striker, but we are glad to have him. The pressure is not really on him.’

At the upcoming World Cup, Woltemade will be deployed as Germany’s first-choice striker

But there is pressure on Howe. Newcastle have lost three on the bounce at St James’ Park for the first time under him. They are 13th in the Premier League and in danger of missing out on any form of European football next season, which is the club’s base expectation.

On Friday, I asked the head coach what he would do with Woltemade given more training time.

‘I still feel there’s a physical adaptation that’s taking place,’ he said. ‘So we would, if we had free training weeks, be really pushing him physically and in the intensity of his actions.

‘The Premier League is the quickest league in the world, by some distance. So everything in your training has to mirror that. I still feel there’s a lot of growth in him that we haven’t been able to unlock.’

Woltemade is not Newcastle’s only problem, but it is one for which there appears no solution right now. Maybe it’s time to park the camper and try to get to work under the bonnet.