West Ham United striker Niclas Fullkrug was spoilt for choice, really, when asked by the Premier League club’s official website to name his favourite-ever teammates.
And even though Fullkrug opted to look back at his pre-Hammers days, the Germany international still had plenty of names to pick from.
Niclas Fullkrug played alongside the likes of Marco Reus, Julian Brandt, Marcel Sabitzer and an admittedly past-his-prime Mats Hummels at Borussia Dortmund. His Germany teammates, meanwhile, have included Joshua Kimmich, Antonio Rudiger, Jamal Musiala, Ilkay Gundogan and Florian Wirtz.
Yet, the West Ham United striker opted to look further back than Dortmund too, instead selecting three players from his Werder Bremen past.
Given how much Fullkrug loves playing alongside Jarrod Bowen at his current employers, it maybe should come as no surprise that this old-school number nine selected another forward with whom he loved to link up with in the final third.
A striker now at Newcastle United, in the shape of Nick Woltemade.
West Ham United’s Niclas Fullkrug played alongside Newcastle’s Nick Woltemade in Germany
Woltemade was just starting to get going at Werder Bremen when Fullkrug left for Dortmund in the summer of 2023.
Yet, even at a time where a £65 million move to Newcastle would have felt like a pipe dream and little more, Fullkrug knew that a striker even taller than he at 6ft 6ins had a very bright future ahead of him.
“It’s difficult to say [who my favourite teammates are]. I will get so many messages after this!” Fullkrug begins, speaking to the West Ham website.
“Christian Gross, who played for Werder Bremen, Nick Woltemade, who’s at Newcastle now, and Sebastian Mielitz, who I also played with at Bremen.”
While former Werder Bremen enforcer Gross now works as an assistant manager at the Weser Stadion and 36-year-old goalkeeper Mielitz is winding down his own career, Woltemade is only just getting started.
With his sky-scraper physique but a touch as soft as velvet, Newcastle’s new record signing is one of the most unique profiles in the game right now. He also scored on his Premier League debut during the recent 1-0 victory over Wolves.
Fullkrug picks out his favourite moments at West Ham so far
Back at West Ham, as Fullkrug competes with Callum Wilson for a starting spot under Graham Potter, the £27 million signing is still awaiting his first Premier League goal of the new season.
And while the likes of Tony Cottee can sympathise with Fullkrug – the Hammers icon feels he is not getting the service he needs – it appears more unlikely than ever that he will belatedly take English by storm in his second season, like his icon Didier Drogba.
“I only have two [icons]. Didier Drogba and Miroslav Klose,” Fullkrug adds before picking out the few highlights of his West Ham career so far. “They are two of the game’s greatest ever strikers.”
“My first home goal against AFC Bournemouth in April 2025 [was a favourite moment], because we played a very good second half and the stadium was very enthusiastic.
“I can’t forget the song from the fans when they sang my name for the first time at Crystal Palace last season. It was my first away game, it was a very nice game, and we played well. It was lovely.
“Finally, I’ll say my first goal against Leicester City in December 2024. Of course, it was a difficult game, because we lost 3-1, but it was after my first injury, my first game back, and I scored. So, for me, it was still something positive.”
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
