Newcastle United can expect a big season from Anthony Gordon ahead of their trip to Aston Villa on Saturday.
Gordon struggled for Newcastle United last season following a difficult summer. The forward was part of the England squad who reached the Euro 2024 final and though he barely played, he returned to pre-season late.
The former Everton star almost left for Liverpool too as Newcastle looked to avoid a potential points deduction from the Premier League for breaching PSR rules.
Gordon has admitted he thought he was leaving Newcastle, which coupled with the England situation, perhaps explained some of his struggles last season.
Things, however, are different now. The 24-year-old looked reasonably bright during pre-season and certainly sounds up for the challenge of responding to last season’s malaise.
Newcastle desperately need him to.
Anthony Gordon playing for Newcastle United against Atletico Madrid in a pre-season friendly.
Photo by George Wood/Getty Images
Newcastle United need Anthony Gordon to respond
Gordon is set to start the season as Newcastle’s striker, with no new signing made thus far and Alexander Isak still trying to force his way out of the club.
Clearly, that’s not ideal for either the player or the club. Gordon will no doubt be looking to cement a place in England’s squad for the 2026 World Cup, so could do without playing out of position for at least some of this campaign.
However, speaking to The Daily Mail earlier this summer, he confirmed he was open to the challenge of replacing Isak – at least on a short-term basis.
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“I’ve said before, I like playing No 9,” he said.
Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak celebrate during Arsenal vs Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup semi-final.
Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images
“I’d have to practise and get the reps in to get the patterns that we do. If that’s a challenge the manager wants to throw at me, I’m happy.”
Newcastle did not score a goal from open play with Gordon starting up front last season. However, very few teams will enjoy playing against a floating frontline boasting the pace of Gordon, Anthony Elanga and Harvey Barnes.
The hope will be that they have enough to tide Eddie Howe’s side over until either a new striker is signed or Isak comes back into the fold.
The Newcastle United manager would surely have loved a new forward in by now regardless of what happens with Isak but Gordon will have to do for now.
Anthony Gordon 2023/24 season 2024/25 season
Games 35 34
Minutes played 2906 2447
Goals 11 6
Assists 10 5
Dribbles/90 1.5 1.1
Shots/90 2.3 1.7
Key passes/90 1.6 1.5
Anthony Gordon stats over last two Premier League seasons compared, data via WhoScored
Neither William Osula nor Sean Neave fully convince yet and Gordon looks the most viable alternative right now.
It’s a challenge for Gordon and Newcastle desperately need an emphatic response to a difficult season for him last time out. A big performance from him at Villa Park would come just at the right time.
How Anthony Gordon feels about Newcastle United now
Gordon is happy at Newcastle again, which should offer Isak some hope of working his way back into the picture if he does end up staying.
It’s natural that a move to Liverpool would have appealed to the former Everton academy graduate. Gordon is a Liverpool fan and the prospect of returning to the city in which he was born must have been tempting.
The move was so far along that Gordon genuinely thought he was set to move to Anfield.
That must mess with a player’s mind. Now, it’s time to get back to his best.
None of this is ideal but Newcastle appear to have Gordon back on board. That can only be a positive.