Pat Nevin has told Anthony Gordon to “get his head right” and accept he will not play every game for Newcastle United.
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The 21-year-old completed a £40m – potentially rising to £45m – move to St James’ Park during the closing stages of the January transfer window after an acrimonious departure from his boyhood club.
Gordon skipped training in order to force Everton’s hand, attracting criticism from supporters. Having hardly excelled during a difficult season for the club, it was a messy exit from Goodison Park.
Newcastle had long been keen on the England U21, who was first a target over the course of the summer window.
While the jury is out on whether or not Gordon will prove worth the long pursuit, the early indications are certainly promising after an exciting debut against West Ham and, frankly, the club’s recruitment staff deserve to be trusted.
What has been said about Gordon and Newcastle?
Speaking to Boyle Sports, former Everton winger-turned-pundit Nevin said: “Gordon had to come in and learn quickly when he came through the academy and played really well on some occasions.
“But in his final moments at the club, there was no effort. And in that situation from an Evertonian perspective, you need to get rid of him, full stop.
“Gordon is a very good player, but if your complaining about not getting game time at the one club you have been at, then leave for one of the soon-to-be top clubs in the world in Newcastle where you’re also not going to be playing every week, what will your attitude be like then?
“He needs to get his head right and work hard. At the end of the day, Everton signed him for nothing and then sold him for £45 million, that’s not too bad!”
Will Gordon play regularly for Newcastle?
Right now, that certainly seems likely.
Jonjo Shelvey’s exit means Eddie Howe is lacking in midfield cover, so it seems reasonable to assume Joelinton will revert to a central role rather than the wide forward position he’s been playing in for most of the season.
That leaves Allan Saint-Maximin and Gordon to compete on the left and the Frenchman has hardly convinced of late. Given Newcastle’s long pursuit of the player, it would seem strange to have him used in a back-up role going forward.
