Before a ball was kicked this season, it looked like a big year in Anthony Gordon’s career – both for Newcastle United and England.
Gordon, who was brilliant in the 2023/24 campaign for Newcastle United, struggled last time out.
While he did impress in flashes, the 24-year-old wasn’t at his best consistently enough. There are mitigating reasons for that of course, with the winger having returned to pre-season late after Euro 2024, as well as the fact he almost joined boyhood club Liverpool.
This time around, things look promising. The opening few games of the season were not easy for Gordon, who was asked to play in a centre-forward role. A red card against Liverpool further derailed his progress.
Still, Gordon has played well for Newcastle this season. He scored against Barcelona in the Champions League before netting two penalties in the 4-0 win over Union Saint-Gilloise.
With Nick Woltemade now up to speed and Yoane Wissa potentially returning soon, the hope is that Gordon doesn’t have to play up front any longer.
Indeed, pundit Ally McCoist is certainly hopeful of that.
Ally McCoist says Anthony Gordon shouldn’t play as a striker
Speaking on talkSPORT, McCoist expressed his concerns about Gordon playing as a striker.
That’s not to say he performed badly there, just that his skillset is much more suited to the left-wing role from which he made his name.
The former Scotland international said: “I mean Anthony Gordon I think he’s a terrific player and I enjoy watching him. Never a number nine in a million years. Never in a million years. Could he be a stop gap and could he play there? Yes.”
“I don’t think there’s any doubt he could do it. But if you’re going to there’s absolutely no way anybody can convince me Anthony Gordon’s a number nine does a lot of his best stuff from wide areas and that for me is where he should play.”
Newcastle expecting Anthony Gordon to explode back into form
While it was easy to criticise Gordon last season, the events of this summer put his stop-start campaign last time out into context.
At least he showed up and got on with it, unlike Alexander Isak.
It’s understandable as to why Gordon struggled. His head must have been all over the place given just how close that move to Liverpool reportedly was.
Interestingly, figures behind the scenes at Newcastle are expecting Gordon to get back to his best this season.
Not every performance thus far has been brilliant by any means but there are certainly signs of life.
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