**Newcastle United are in Champions League action on Wednesday night as Athletic Bilbao come to St James' Park. The game is live on TNT Sports with a kick-off time of 8 pm.**
Everyone will be desperate to banish the memory of Sunday's game with a good performance and a win on home soil on Wednesday night.
Things were so bad on Sunday that Eddie Howe made three changes during the half time break, bringing off big names Nick Woltemade and Anthony Gordon, which shocked a lot of people.
Speaking after that game, Howe admitted that he could have taken anybody off, such was the level of performance.
Anthony Gordon was hooked at half time on Sunday
Eddie Howe has justified his reasons for hooking Nick Woltemade and Anthony Gordon
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Speaking to the media today (via [The Chronicle](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-united-press-conference-live-32809089)), Eddie Howe has clarified why he chose Woltemade and Gordon specifically, and has seemingly thrown the gauntlet down to the England winger.
> "With Nick we have thrust him into every single game near enough and he looked a little bit fatigued so it was a decision to benefit Nick and the team going forward.
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> "With Anthony, he has played very well in the Champions League but he hasn't played quite as well in the Premier League and that is now his challenge."
Eddie Howe went on to state that it's not just Anthony Gordon who needs to pick things up.
> "_I've had many discussions with Anthony. He is a very honest player; there is no lack of effort or commitment to do well, and he is very driven to succeed. We need more from everybody in the Premier League; it is not just Anthony. The league is of such a high level, and there are added challenges for us mentally when we return from European games or cup games, and that is something we have to do better._"
Does Anthony Gordon have an attitude problem?
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Woltemade has been getting the goals for Newcastle, but we haven't really found a way to bring him into the game beyond that. He's fighting to get more touches, but we're not delivering. It's something that will come in time, though.
But as for Anthony Gordon, it feels like an attitude thing. For so long now, fans have questioned where his head is at. It's almost as if he feels the Champions League is his level, so he shows up for those games, and the big games in the Premier League, but won't get out of bed for any games against the non 'big six' teams.
Hopefully, with Eddie Howe calling him out in public now, he'll really start to think about it and get his act together. Obviously, he'll be fine tomorrow night as it's the Champions League, but surely he has to break this streak in the Premier League on Sunday against Brentford. 20 Premier League games without a goal or an assist would be a shocking run for a winger of Gordon's calibre.