Mycampusplug
England’s Anthony Gordon earns the title of Newcastle United’s player of the season, a £40 million steal
Even Mr Durability succumbed eventually during Newcastle United’s season of injuries, although he resisted until the very last.
Having been fit throughout the campaign, and having admitted he does not even really know the club’s physios, Anthony Gordon did not get the opportunity to banish any lingering demons at Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium. However, he can be content that his Newcastle career has come full circle.
The last time Newcastle travelled to that corner of west London, in April 2023, Gordon shoved Eddie Howe, having been substituted as a substitute. It was a heat-of-the-moment reaction from a player who was desperate to impress but struggling to establish himself in the starting XI, and it led Gordon to fear he had damaged his relationship with his new head coach.
Just 13 months on, as he is named in the 33-strong England training squad for the European Championship starting on June 14, Gordon’s mood, and standing, at Newcastle have been transformed.
Belatedly, following what he now accepts was a necessary six-month adjustment period, Gordon has benefited immensely from Howe’s hands-on methods, while the head coach has benefited in turn from having such a supremely motivated and talented player.
Rather than rest after being recognised as the player of the tournament during England’s victory at the European Under-21 Championship last summer, Gordon used his five-day break in Dubai to set goals for 2023-24. He swiftly returned to Tyneside for pre-season and set about attaining those targets.
Alongside collecting his first senior cap, which arrived in March, was a desire to reach double figures for goals and assists. He scored 11 and laid on another 10 in the Premier League and, although Alexander Isak’s 21 goals, Fabian Schar’s all-action displays and Kieran Trippier’s 10 assists deserve honourable mentions, Gordon undoubtedly warrants the tag of Newcastle’s player of the season.
There is a strong argument that the 23-year-old justified inclusion on the shortlist for the Premier League-wide senior accolade, never mind its under-23s award, which he was not shortlisted for either. Few players proved such difference-makers as frequently as Gordon did for Newcastle but this single-minded attacker will surely use being overlooked to fuel his limitless ambitions.
That unyielding drive and relentless motivation for self-improvement were part of why Newcastle’s recruitment team became fixated on signing Gordon. The winger had shown flickers of promise at Everton, enough to convince figures inside Newcastle, including Howe, this was an elite player in the making.
