BBC pundit convinced £40m Newcastle star isn’t suited to position he played

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Tuesday night was not an easy one for Newcastle United.

Eddie Howe’s side saw their hopes of Champions League progression severely dented by Borussia Dortmund, who ran out 2-0 winners in Germany.

That’s now two Champions League defeats in a row for Newcastle, who now face the prospect of almost certainly needing maximum points from their final two games to stand any chance of making it to the knockout stages.

At times, it looked like a game too far for this injury-depleted side.

Indeed, Howe wasn’t even able to fill his bench due to a lack of available bodies and had to play some of his players out of position.

Tino Livramento, for example, started on the right wing before dropping back into his more natural defensive position in the second-half.

Anthony Gordon was another. The £40m star replaced the injured Callum Wilson at the break, playing up front rather than on the left wing and BBC Sport pundit Neil Lennon gave a bleak view of his ability there.

Borussia Dortmund vs Newcastle: Neil Lennon issues bleak verdict on Anthony Gordon

Indeed, speaking to BBC Sport at 19.34 on 07/11/2023, the former Celtic manager said: “Anthony Gordon is not a striker, he is a winger.

“If Callum Wilson is injured then that is another huge blow.”

Newcastle injuries: Gordon could have to play up front on Saturday

To be fair to Gordon, it was not easy to come on against an in-form Dortmund side with Newcastle chasing the game.

The former Everton forward did also score the winner against Arsenal on Saturday with a penalty-box finish, so its not as if he is without his uses there.

In an ideal world of course, he would continue playing on the left wing but there’s not much Howe can do. With Alexander Isak injured and Wilson coming off, there are very few other options heading into the Bournemouth game.