Anthony Gordon was the matchwinner for Newcastle against Chelsea on Saturday afternoon but the England forward decided to hit back at comments from Wayne Rooney, Alan Shearer and Roy Keane
(Image: BBC)
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Newcastle star Anthony Gordon has slammed comments from Wayne Rooney about his substitute appearance vs Barcelona as ‘absolute nonsense’. The England winger started on the bench against the Catalan giants midweek due to illness.
He came on late in the game, something that left Rooney, as well as fellow pundits Roy Keane and Alan Shearer, baffled. It was claimed that either Gordon should have played the full game or not played at all.
But Gordon has since hit back. Speaking after Newcastle’s win against Chelsea, he said: “Usually I don't like to clear stuff up because I don't care too much. But this one does need clearing up because it was just nonsense.
“I didn't see but the stuff that the media guy told me was complete and utter stupidity. I was in bed for three days, missed training, so I was sick for three days. Then I turned up on the day of the game ready to start and I thought I was starting.
“When I got to the stadium, the manager told me I wasn't starting, which you can imagine I didn't like very much, but that's his decision. The team played great, but saying I didn't want to play in the biggest game of my career is absolute nonsense.”
Rooney also claimed that Gordon had refused to shake his hand pre-game against Barcelona so as not to spread anything. On his comments in particular, Gordon added: “'I think it was Rooney that said I walked past and didn't shake their hands, but then went in the changing room.
“I got changed by myself in a changing room the size of this. It was just me and a sink. So it was complete nonsense, and I think they need to do better at what they are doing.”
Gordon was not the first to have been left furious by the comments. Newcastle boss Eddie Howe also hit back at accusations that the wideman did not intend on playing.
Anthony Gordon
Gordon was the matchwinner for Newcastle vs Chelsea(Image: Getty Images)
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He said: "I do have to clear something up with Anthony Gordon. He was absolutely willing to play in the game against Barcelona.
"I know there's a lot of comments. It was my decision not to start him based on the fact that he'd been ill that morning and hadn't attended the training session. So he was prepared to play, but in consultation with the medical team, we didn't think he was fit to play."
Upon his return to the starting line-up vs Chelsea, Gordon ended up being the matchwinner against Chelsea - his goal in the 18th minute enough to secure victory at Stamford Bridge.
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