The England international put in a good shift against Aston Villa next week and spoke about the impact of Alexander Isak's refusal to play
Newcastle United's Anthony Gordon (left) and Alexander Isak
Newcastle United's Anthony Gordon (left) and Alexander Isak
Anthony Gordon has set the tone for tonight's powder-keg encounter with Liverpool by insisting the Alexander Isak affair can't "break" Newcastle United.
The Scouser - who goes in against his hometown club as the lead striker this evening - was the subject of a bid from the Reds last year but ended up staying at St James' Park.
Having recovered his focus and form, Gordon will be looking to sink Liverpool in what will be a cauldron of emotion and noise for what promises to be be a bank holiday cracker.
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Isak's reluctunce to play for the club after having his head turned by Liverpool has dominated the agenda on Tyneside, but Gordon, speaking to BBC Newcastle, said ahead of the game: "It has been a difficult summer but you wouldn't have thought it the way we performed, and that is testament to all the players and staff.
"We are progressing, and I feel like you are seeing the togetherness around the team. Our main strength is togetherness and nothing is going to break that.
"Every challenge that comes at us is only going to make us better."
Clashes between Newcastle and Liverpool don't usually require any extra fuel, but the Isak situation has already been cranked up to new levels of intensity.
Gordon did not need reminding of how much of a battle lies in wait at St James' Park in the Premier League as Newcastle aim to get off to a winning start on Tyneside.
Gordon said: "I think with everything that’s gone, I’m sure the atmosphere’s going to be a bit wild.
"I’m just excited to see the home fans again, get back in the stadium. It’s going to be a top game."
The former Everton star will be Newcastle's main attacking threat through the middle, and his position was one of the talking points ahead of tonight.
His head coach Eddie Howe was asked if Gordon, who caused problems for Aston Villa in last week's 0-0 draw, could even start to contemplate being Isak's replacement and said: "I don't think anyone can fill Alex's boots and Anthony will know that himself. He's not trying to be Alex, he's got to be himself.
"I think if he'd scored against Aston Villa, you'd go, 'That's the perfect number nine performance'. I think he had seven shots in the game, he looked a threat, and he got a man sent off.
"He was using his qualities, which are his pace and his dribbling skills, so I thought it was a really good performance from him.
"Yes, of course, we were missing the goal from the team's overall performance, but hopefully those will come."