Former Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given believes Alan Shearer was wrong to suggest that Anthony Gordon could have started for the Magpies against Barcelona in their Champions League first leg. Eddie Howe said he had to put the ex-Everton forward on the bench as he was feeling ill.
After the La Liga heavyweights secured a dramatic 1-1 draw at St. James' Park, Shearer criticised Gordon by saying the England international should have pushed through his illness to get onto the pitch. After Newcastle overcame Chelsea 1-0 at Stamford Bridge, with Gordon grabbing the equaliser, the forward used his post-match interview to slam Shearer and Wayne Rooney's criticism as "nonsense", stating he had been "in bed for three days."
Speaking to TNT Sports, Given said: "I think on the whole the lads were a bit strong on what they said. I don't think any player would shy away from playing against Barcelona.
"In fact, after injury, I think it would be the opposite. You'd take a few tablets or a few injections just to get on that pitch because these games do not come around very often.
"I think the last time they played here was about 30 years ago. Every single player wants to play. Anthony Gordon also has an unbelievable record in the Champions League this year as well.
"He wants to try and top the charts in goalscoring as well. He doesn't want to miss a minute. I suppose I'm glad he's strong enough to stand up to the people he said that, not in a bad way, just that he's his own personality, he came out strong and defensive and rightly so."