Newcastle United forward Nick Woltemade won’t join Germany’s squad due to a flu-like infection, casting doubt on his participation in upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

Nick Woltemade, the 23-year-old Newcastle United forward, has been ruled out of Germany’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers for now due to a flu-like infection.

The German Football Association (DFB) confirmed that Woltemade won’t join the squad at their training base in Herzogenaurach on Monday as planned.

Woltemade recently scored his third Premier League goal for Newcastle in their 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest. Despite this setback, Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann is optimistic that Woltemade will recover in time to join the squad soon and has chosen not to call up a replacement for now.

The German national team is preparing for crucial World Cup qualifiers against Luxembourg on Friday and Northern Ireland on Monday. With Woltemade’s absence, Nagelsmann will have to adjust his lineup and strategies to ensure the team’s success in these important matches.

Woltemade has made four appearances for Germany’s senior national team so far, and his contribution will be valuable in the upcoming qualifiers. Newcastle United fans will be keeping a close eye on Woltemade’s progress, hoping he recovers quickly and returns to the pitch soon.

Germany currently sits third in Group A with three points, behind Northern Ireland on goal difference and Slovakia, who lead the group with six points. The top team in the group will qualify for the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.