The Magpies forward was in ruthless form in Wednesday night's Champions League win
Newcastle United's Anthony Gordon celebrates with Anthony Elanga against Qarabag
Newcastle's Anthony Gordon celebrates with Anthony Elanga against Qarabag(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
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Newcastle's away results for much of this season had been an embarrassment. A scab on the landscape. Predictable and, much of the time, humiliating.
However no more. The ugly ducklings have suddenly become swans, elegant and immaculate. They head to Manchester City chasing their fourth successive away victory back to back. Can you believe it?
Across a wide canvas of competition - Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League - United have topped Spurs 2-1, Aston Villa 3-1 and Qarabag 6-1. That, lest it doesn't dawn, means the Mags have gorged themselves on 11 goals over three matches off their own midden.
For Anthony Gordon the jackpot has been of Las Vegas proportions. Four goals no less in far-off Baku. Who would have thought an outside-left playing centre-forward would score more Champions League goals in a season than the legendary Alan Shearer? It's now 10 goals in nine matches so far and it's not over yet. Champion, isn't it?
As for the incredible sight of Gordon being challenged by his skipper Kieran Trippier coming off at half-time over who should have taken United's second penalty I can only state the case of habitual goalscorers Shearer and Malcolm Macdonald.
Big Al told young Paul Robinson to go jump when the kid won a penalty against Sheffield Wednesday during Bobby Robson's first home game and the strike added to Shearer's five-goal haul, while SuperMac similarly suggested Kevin Keegan should take a hike in reply to KK's inquiry about whether our leader would make a goal for him during his record breaking five goal haul for England at Wembley.
Great goalscorers score goals not give them away so why should Gordon offer one up on a rare occasion to gorge himself as a centre-forward? He had been accused of not scoring enough during a long dry PL spell which would render voluntarily handing a goal to someone else an act of complete folly.
Still, I'm pinching myself over what happened generally. Wasn't there talk about whether Howe ought to be sacked? That Gordon should be dropped, his attitude leaving so much to be desired? Whatever, aren't we delighted? Surprised or not. Thrilled without question.
Remember United have rescued their season without Bruno, without Livramento and Schar, without Wissa, Botman, Miley and Joelinton apart from quarter of an hour at the end in Azerbaijan when all was done.
Of course a greater Everest lies ahead. United have just returned from an exhausting 5,000-mile trip to the edge of Asia and must stagger on to Man City who have been sitting in carpet slippers with feet up resting all week.
It feels like we're a hamster on a wheel, the long-distance runner unable to get off its relentless treadmill.
Yet it can be argued that it's the price Newcastle have to pay for growth and success. It's a world we must live in if we wish to join the elite. So on we go, shuffle the pack, take a deep breath, and gird your loins.
This final act on the road before coming home will be a colossal challenge. Yes, we have beaten the blues up here in the PL but they took us out home and away in the Carabao Cup semi-final and, desperate to make up ground on a nervous Arsenal in the championship race, must put the accelerator pedal to the floor.
Whatever happens we can be proud - and relieved - at what United have given us over the last three games. We can return to SJP and set off on another run.
All right, I accept that Qarabag weren't the stiffest of opposition but they drew with Chelsea out there and beat Eintracht Frankfurt and Copenhagen. Even Benfica away. They had scored at least twice in all four of their home CL fixtures.
However Howe picked a team to exploit their weaknesses. The brutal pace of our front three Elanga, Gordon and Barnes backed by the surging Willock and a high press was far too much for a team whose domestic league is sedate, a country mile behind the PL. The second leg next week is no more than a lap of honour.
Eddie, bless him, is more of a politician than Keir Starmer et al will ever be. He says the politically correct come what may.
Afterwards with Newcastle 6-1 up and the second leg at home he declared straight faced and with a look of caution that 'the tie is not over yet.' Of course not, Mr H, of course not.
After Qarabag in the last 16 it's either Chelsea, the super-rich scatter gunners, or Barcelona who I am getting a little sick of seeing. Still, we'll take it with a smile of achievement.
You can of course get sick of the same folk always knocking on your door and Man City are a bit like that.
Saturday is a late night get-together while, lo and behold, we're now set to say hello for a fifth time this season in the FA Cup - the second time we will have met them in both domestic cup competitions within three short seasons.
By it is all through the total number of meetings between Eddie Howe and Pep Guardiola will be a whopping 11, something unprecedented in modern times.
If we've played snakes and ladders this campaign let us rejoice in climbing where once we slid. Let us get Man City out of the way and come home to be amongst our own folk.
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