Newcastle United saw the best of Anthony Gordon against Chelsea.
The 24-year-old was spectacular in Newcastle United’s draw with Chelsea, playing a pivotal role in both of Nick Woltemade’s goals in the first half.
It was like watching a different player at times, with Anthony Gordon enduring an inconsistent season so far. There have been flashes of pure brilliance, as well as plenty of underwhelming displays.
Gordon was criticised after losing to Sunderland, but he is very much bouncing back with his display against Chelsea.
In the eyes of Eddie Howe, the challenge now is to deliver that kind of performance on a regular basis.
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Eddie Howe calls on Anthony Gordon to take his game to the next level
The Newcastle United manager was asked about Gordon finding consistency during his pre-match press conference ahead of the Boxing Day game against Manchester United.
“I think that’s the challenge [for Gordon],” Howe said via YouTube.
“I thought Chelsea was one of Anthony’s best games this season. Started from very early in the game when he won the ball back for our first goal, and then he’s the one getting on the end of Jacob Murphy’s cross and Nick ultimately scores.
“Two actions there, the tackle and getting in the box, you’d say that’s Anthony at his very best.
“Then he sets up the goal for Nick. A really productive half for him.
“I’d say it’s the same for any player, finding that consistent level of performance when you’re hitting very good levels every single game. That separates the best players from the others. That’s a challenge for Anthony, as we move forward to try to replicate that performance on a more consistent basis.”
Anthony Gordon has extra incentive to shine for Newcastle United in 2026
So far this season, Gordon has 10 goal contributions in all competitions. Given how much he has struggled, that is actually quite impressive.
The challenge now is to deliver in every game he plays, which is something we have seen him do for Newcastle United in the past.
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There is extra incentive for him to do it from now until the end of the season, as the countdown towards the 2026 World Cup continues.
Gordon feels nailed on to be part of Thomas Tuchel’s England squad, but it is uncertain whether he will be a starter.
While Tuchel is a huge fan of Gordon, his role with the Three Lions will largely depend on how he performs for Newcastle United in the coming months.
That should give the left-sided forward the motivation he needs to hit new heights in a Newcastle United shirt.
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