Unplayable at times in the Champions League, impressive for England but below-par for [Newcastle United](http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/football/newcastle?ref=au) in the Premier League.
On his day, Gordon - as Jose Mourinho told him after [Newcastle's](https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/football/newcastleunited/?ref=ed_direct) victory over Benfica in the Championship League - is "too much" for the opposition.
But those days have been few and far between for the Scouser in the Premier League this term.
And it's why, as Newcastle head to face Everton tonight in their final fixture in November, there's an understandable debate as to whether Gordon will and should start against his former side.
After missing two league games with a hip problem, Gordon was back in the starting XI in Marseille in midweek, leading the line in place of the rested Nick Woltemade.
But if Howe decides to recall Woltemade, what does he do with Gordon? He can't drop the in-form Harvey Barnes. So does he move Barnes to the right flank to accommodate Gordon on the left? Does he again leave out Woltemade and play Gordon through the middle? Or does he leave the 24-year-old on the bench?
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More importantly, looking at the bigger picture, how do Newcastle get Gordon firing on a regular basis?
"I think it's the same with any player, he has to train well," said Howe.
"The training performances of any player are an indicator of what they're going to do in the games.
"Now we have limited training time this year, so the individual development probably plays more importance because you're not sort of doing big team sessions, you're doing more small-based sessions and that individual work and that one-to-one work, that development work is so important in any player.
"So I think to find his goalscoring form again, it will come through repetition and being in the right positions.
"If you look at just Harvey's goals in recent weeks, his positioning has been very good. He's ended up with a different array of goals and sometimes you just need one to kick-start yourself."
Newcastle have seen the very best of Gordon this season - but only in flashes.
"A little bit in and out really," said Howe, assessing the forward's campaign so far.
"He's had some really good games, the Benfica game and another game around that spell when he was electric, really good, one of his best games.
"Then he had the sending off against Liverpool, the hip injury so it's been a bit bitty for him. No doubt he'll be looking to find his best form and we'll try help him to get there. That's where it is.
"He's always been historically a scorer of important goals for us.
"You go back through the showreels of our goals and he's invariably got big ones in big competitions and big moments.
"I back him that he will score goals and continue to enjoy his career here. Obviously, that's going to come down to him and taking those opportunities when they come."