Anthony Gordon now shares what he recently told Newcastle teammate about Eddie Howe

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Newcastle United had to wait for Anthony Gordon to emerge as a leading talent.

Indeed, it would be fair to say that the £40m winger did not instantly hit the ground running following his move from Everton.

In fact, he even reacted angrily to being substituted against Brentford back in April, such was the frustrating manner in which his Newcastle career started.

Still, after a productive summer break which involved starring as the England U21s won the European Championship for their age group, Gordon has not looked back.

Billed as one the standout players in the Premier League this season, the 23-year-old has been a leading force for Newcastle.

For that rapid-fire improvement, Gordon has hailed one man.

Anthony Gordon: Newcastle star hails Eddie Howe

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Gordon was effusive in his praise of Eddie Howe’s management.

In fact, he reminded interviewer Craig Hope of something he told Newcastle teammate Matt Ritchie just the other day.

“This is fresh in my mind because I was speaking about it yesterday with Matt Ritchie.

“I say to people, ‘You don’t understand what he has done for my life, never mind my football’.

“His standards and the way he treats people, how good a person he is, how hard he works and how determined he is to be successful, that is the reason I am doing well at the moment – he has dragged me to that level.

“I was not like that when I first joined. I’m like that outside of football now. I’m so glad I’ve had him in my life.”

Anthony Gordon: Eddie Howe makes star look a bargain

Before a signing was made under PIF’s ownership, Howe was yielding improvements out of the players he inherited at the club, such as Joelinton and Fabian Schar.

Still, Howe’s work on the coaching field is not only limited to the players who were at the club before he arrived. Gordon has come on leaps and bounds under the pressure of a big price tag and after an inauspicious start at St James’ Park.

That is no mean feat, particularly during a season in which Newcastle have struggled. Pretty much always available and having netted winners against both Arsenal and Manchester United this season, he’s been brilliant from when the first ball was kicked.

What a signing he has proven to be. Without Howe’s work, things may have looked very different.