Troy Deeney has revealed he's 'starting to worry' about Newcastle United forward Anthony Gordon, while issuing a comparison to fellow England international Marcus Rashford.
The striker-turned-pundit was discussing Rashford's resurgence at Barcelona ever since joining on loan from Manchester United at the start of the season. The Englishman has netted 10 goals and registered 13 assists in all competitions since his move to Spain.
However, the comparison Deeney drew between the 28-year-old and Gordon wasn't a flattering one. Instead, he suggested that his concern for Gordon would lead him to think Rashford should start ahead of him at the 2026 World Cup.
Troy Deeney on Anthony Gordon 'Falling Into Rashford Trap'
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Deeney, who has admitted to being Rashford's biggest critic over the years, has said it is 'fantastic to see him maturing and impressing in Spain'. He explained in his column for The Sun:
"He comes back as a player humbled by Barcelona and all the better for it.
"What has always got under people’s skin about Rashford is that there is more talent in his little toe than in half of the footballers out there, yet we watched him take wage after wage at Manchester United and saw it go to his head."
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After waxing lyrical about the significant improvement the Carrington graduate has made in La Liga, Deeney backed Rashford to be Thomas Tuchel's starting left-winger at the upcoming World Cup. Gordon, who would make way, has been a regular under the German boss, but Deeney wrote:
"It looks like it is between him and Anthony Gordon for that spot at the moment — and I am starting to worry that the Newcastle winger is falling into the Rashford trap.
"Gordon looks like he’s starting to believe his own hype, believe that he can be bigger than Newcastle and deserves a move to somewhere like Arsenal or Liverpool. Someone should intervene."
Gordon Papering Over the Cracks in Europe
Anthony Gordon
Anthony Gordon
In what has been an extremely disappointing season for Eddie Howe's Magpies so far, Gordon has only found the net four times in 23 Premier League appearances. The pacey winger has looked like a shadow of his former electric self in the English top-flight.
However, he's been carrying Newcastle brilliantly in the UEFA Champions League. Gordon's 10 goals in as many European games puts him among the competition's top scorers, but that hasn't convinced Deeney.
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"Gordon’s ten goals in the Champions League are making his performances this season look better than they have been. Four of those ten came against Qarabag," the pundit explained.
He then said that based on 'attitude', Rashford has to be in Tuchel's starting XI this summer, adding: "If you go off stats alone, Gordon starts. But if you actually watch the football and see the attitude of both players then it has to be Rashford."
Statistics in this article are courtesy of Transfermarkt. Correct as of 08-03-26.