Anthony Gordon of Newcastle United arrives at the stadium prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Round of 16 First Leg match between Newcastle United FC and FC Barcelona at St James' Park on March 10, 2026 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)placeholder image
Anthony Gordon of Newcastle United arrives at the stadium prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Round of 16 First Leg match between Newcastle United FC and FC Barcelona at St James' Park on March 10, 2026 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Newcastle United official reason why Anthony Gordon is on the bench versus Barcelona in the Champions League.
Anthony Gordon is on the bench for Newcastle United’s Champions League last-16 first-leg tie against Barcelona.
Gordon is the Magpies’ top goal-scorer in the Champions League with 10 goals this season, with only Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe scoring more.
Newcastle United official reason why Anthony Gordon is on the bench v Barcelona
But the 25-year-old has been feeling unwell in recent days and is therefore only fit enough to be among the substitutes.
Eddie Howe revealed at his pre-match press conference that illness had been going around in the camp.
“Yeah, I think we came through the Manchester City game okay, relatively okay,” Howe said. “I think no fresh injuries.
“We've got a little bit of illness again in the camp, so it's been sort of hanging around in recent days. We'll have a player go down, but they're recovering quite quickly. So I anticipate, fingers crossed, we won't lose anybody.”
Barcelona clash is the biggest game in Newcastle United’s history - Eddie Howe
The Magpies compete in their first-ever Champions League last 16 knockout tie, with Howe describing it as the biggest game in the club’s history.
Howe explained: “There's only 16 teams left and we're one of them,. so I think it's very much an opportunity to grab a moment that we may never get again.
“You don't know what life brings tomorrow, let alone future seasons. We don't want to waste that opportunity. Don't want to kick ourselves and think what ifs, so I think this is a moment for us to try and grab.
“Since my time here, just over four years, we've worked to get to this point, so as long as we perform to our maximum, we'll have to accept the result. But we want to try and get as close as we can to our very best.”
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