Sean McCormick is a football writer covering Newcastle United for ChronicleLive. After starting his career covering North East sport, he has had a spell working as an editor on the Manchester Evening News. He also writes about darts and boxing. He joined us in 2016.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe (L) and Anthony Gordon
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe (L) and Anthony Gordon
(Image: AFP or licensors)
If you ask Eddie Howe whether he is thinking about Newcastle's Champions League opener against Barcelona next Thursday he will almost certainly tell you that his focus does not go beyond Saturday's visit of Wolves.
But the Magpies manager will surely have one eye on what is set to be a momentous occasion at St James' Park when United welcome the Spanish champions to Tyneside.
The two clubs are intertwined by history and both, of course, were managed by the late Sir Bobby Robson. Newcastle famously beat Barcelona 3-2 in 1997 as Tino Asprilla etched his name into club folklore by scoring a hat-trick.
Howe has already made his own slice of history at Newcastle, guiding the club to their first domestic trophy win in 70 years by winning the Carabao Cup last season.
Having also guided Newcastle to a famous Champions League win of his own two years ago when United swept aside current European champions PSG 4-1 at St James' Park, Howe will be desperate to create more history when the Blaugrana roll into town next week.
Newcastle will be firmly in the midst of a run of two games per week by the time that game rolls around and Howe must manage his squad carefully as they negotiate competing in four competitions again this term.
Injuries cost the Magpies dearly last time they were in the Champions League but they have built a squad this summer which has two quality players for each position and should be able to cope with the demands those extra European matches will bring.
With that in mind, the fact Anthony Gordon is suspended for the next two league games means he should be almost certain to start against Barcelona next week.
Gordon was sent off in the 3-2 defeat to Liverpool and served the first of his three-match suspension in last month's 0-0 draw against Leeds United.
He has since played twice for England, coming off the bench in Saturday's 2-0 win over Andorra before starting and playing a starring role in Tuesday's impressive 5-0 win over Serbia.
Gordon looked electric on the left-hand side for his country, drawing fouls, taking on defenders and twice testing the palms of Serbia and Bournemouth goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic.
Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson described Gordon's performance as 'outstanding' while working on commentary for BBC Radio 5Live and he will return to training with Newcastle today knowing he has a full week to prepare for a huge European night under the lights at St James' Park.
Howe will not publicly say it before Wolves, particularly if Harvey Barnes impresses on the left-hand side of Newcastle's front three on Saturday. But Newcastle learned valuable lessons last time they were in the Champions League about the rotation of their squad in a gruelling run of games.
All logic would suggest Gordon will already be in Howe's thinking for his starting XI against Hansi Flick's side.