Wayne Rooney has responded after Anthony Gordon furiously called him out following his comments after Newcastle vs Barcelona.
The Englishman started on the bench for Newcastle's Champions League last 16 first leg tie against the La Liga giants. He came off the bench with 22 minutes remaining as the match ended in a 1-1 draw.
After the game, Gordon drew criticism from numerous pundits, including Alan Shearer and Rooney. Both questioned Gordon after he failed to make the starting lineup.
Rooney said: "If you're ill, you're ill. You shouldn't be there. He walked past us before the game and wouldn't shake our hands. He said he didn't want us to catch anything, but then he's going into the dressing room with his teammates."
Anthony Gordon Fires Back at Wayne Rooney
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Gordon returned to Newcastle's starting lineup against Chelsea, scoring the only goal as Eddie Howe's side picked up all three points at Stamford Bridge. The 25-year-old hit back at Rooney and his critics after the match as he said: “Usually I don't like to clear stuff up because I don't care too much. But this one does need clearing up because it was just nonsense.
“I didn't see but the stuff that the media guy told me was complete and utter stupidity. I was in bed for three days, missed training, so I was sick for three days. Then I turned up on the day of the game ready to start and I thought I was starting.
“When I got to the stadium, the manager told me I wasn't starting, which you can imagine I didn't like very much, but that's his decision. The team played great, but saying I didn't want to play in the biggest game of my career is absolute nonsense.
“'I think it was Rooney that said I walked past and didn't shake their hands, but then went in the changing room. I got changed by myself in a changing room the size of this. It was just me and a sink. So it was complete nonsense, and I think they need to do better at what they are doing.”
Wayne Rooney Responds to Gordon's Furious Interview
Pundit and former footballers Wayne Rooney talks ahead of a game
Rooney was asked about Gordon's comments by Kelly Somers on his podcast, The Wayne Rooney Show. The 40-year-old responded:
“I don't need to come out and say it, but what I was saying is the sports science will probably be saying, oh, we can only play 20 or 30 minutes. That's the way the game is now. Managers, doctors, all get involved, and you put players at risk of getting injuries and stuff. So that's where I was coming from anyway.
"That wouldn't have happened when Fergie [Sir Alex Fergyson] was here in terms of no sports science telling you [players can't play]. I think the old school generation is if you are fit to play, you can play. Yeah, no one's going to say, 'oh, you can play 20 or 30 minutes.'
"I don't think any of us were questioning his desire to play. I think it was more... It was strange because if you're ill, sometimes you're out of the game completely. And that was the strange bit, saying he could play 20 or 30 minutes."
Gordon and Newcastle return to action on Wednesday evening when they travel to Barcelona to contest the second leg of their Champions League last 16 clash.