Newcastle United need a superstar to step up in the Champions League, and Joe Cole thinks he knows exactly who it will be.
Had Alexander Isak stayed at Newcastle United, all eyes would be on him ahead of the 2025/26 Champions League campaign. With one of the world’s best strikers, the Magpies would have a chance against anyone.
But Isak is a Liverpool player, while Eddie Howe will be looking elsewhere in his squad for a talisman.
In the middle of the park, Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali are more than capable. In defence, Newcastle have a warrior in Dan Burn.
It is in attack where the Magpies need someone to step up, and Joe Cole believes it could be Anthony Gordon.
Anthony Gordon applauds the Newcastle United fans after drawing with Aston Villa.
Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images
Joe Cole predicts Anthony Gordon to shine in the Champions League
With the 2025/26 Champions League campaign kicking off, former Chelsea and England playmaker Joe Cole has been asked to provide some predictions for TNT Sports on Instagram.
Cole backed Barcelona to win the entire thing, but also picked out Newcastle United as his surprise package.
Most interestingly, his nomination for Champions League breakout star was Anthony Gordon.
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This will be the 24-year-old’s second major European adventure, having been a key part of Newcastle’s last Champions League campaign in 2023/24. He featured in all six games, starting five of them.
Unfortunately for Gordon, he was unable to score or provide an assist in Europe. It was a different story domestically, with the winger getting 28 goal contributions in total.
The Champions League stage is set for Anthony Gordon against Barcelona
This is a big season for Gordon, but it has got off to a really difficult start.
Gordon’s red card against Liverpool means fans have not seen much of him, but that is about to change.
The England international is only suspended for one more domestic game, while he is eligible to feature in the Champions League. He is in Newcastle’s predicted XI to face Barcelona on Thursday night, which feels like the perfect opportunity for him to kick-start his season.
With his speed and Barcelona’s high line, the stage is set for Gordon. He can hurt Hansi Flick’s side, while he can also be the Magpies’ European talisman on nights like this.
Joe Cole thinks Gordon can be the breakout star of the entire competition, and Thursday is the perfect chance for the Newcastle United number 10 to start proving him right.