Eddie Howe has provided an update on Anthony Gordon after the forward limped off in Newcastle United’s defeat to Atletico Madrid on Saturday.
Things just can’t stop going badly for Newcastle United this summer and the latest blow came after Anthony Gordon appeared to suffer a hamstring injury in Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid.
Goals from Julian Alvarez and Antoine Griezmann ensured Newcastle failed to win any of their six pre-season friendlies as their woes on and off the pitch continued.
Newcastle weren’t even allowed to bask in the glow of securing the signing of Malick Thiaw from AC Milan, with the move being given the rubber-stamp by Fabrizio Romano during the match, for long.
That’s because Gordon was forced off in the closing stages of the game after appearing to receive treatment for a hamstring injury from a physio.
Gordon limped off the field and headed straight down the tunnel in a nightmare sight for Eddie Howe, a week ahead of the season starting at Aston Villa.
However, it doesn’t appear to be a muscle injury as first feared, following an update from the manager.
Anthony Gordon leaves the pitch with a physio after suffering an injury.
Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images
Eddie Howe says Anthony Gordon
Speaking after the game in a press conference, Howe was asked about Gordon’s injury and revealed it wasn’t a hamstring problem as first feared.
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He said: “We hope he’s ok.
“It’s an ankle problem.
“We initially thought it was a muscle. The good news is it’s just a twist. The initial feeling is he should be OK.”
🚨 Eddie Howe on Anthony Gordon…
🗣️ "We hope he’s ok. It's an ankle problem. We initially thought it was a muscle. The good news is it's just a twist. The initial feeling is he should be OK"
— Craig Hope (@CraigHope_DM) August 9, 2025
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Anthony Gordon injury means Newcastle United must sign Yoane Wissa this week
Though the injury thankfully doesn’t appear as bad as feared, it’s still not clear if he’ll be available for Villa.
Losing any of his key players to injury this close to the season is a massive blow for Howe, but if there was one he could have picked to definitely not suffer a blow, it might well have been Gordon.
Gordon impressed playing up-front against Atletico, linking up well with Anthony Elanga and showing dangerous movement.
The forward has looked revitalised this summer and was surely set to start up front against Villa.
Alexander Isak is highly unlikely to play as his relationship with the club has soured after Newcastle refused to sell him to Liverpool.
Meanwhile, though he has worked hard, William Osula hasn’t taken any of his chances in pre-season and is unlikely to be trusted to start.
That leaves Howe desperately short on strikers and he could be forced to play Elanga or even Joelinton there on Saturday.
None of those are ideal, which just piles the pressure on Newcastle to sign Yoane Wissa before the game.
Newcastle are expected to bring in Wissa for £35m after finally getting a breakthrough with Brentford and there’s hope the deal will now move quickly.
It had better.