One Newcastle United player is proving Joe Cole right in the Champions League this season.
The Magpies have picked up 10 points from their first six Champions League games, and now look poised to at least make it into the playoffs.
They could even finish in the top eight, but that will require positive results against PSV Eindhoven and Paris Saint-Germain following Newcastle United’s draw with Bayer Leverkusen.
Eddie Howe’s side are in the position they are right now largely because of Anthony Gordon. He has been Newcastle United’s go-to guy in the Champions League, providing seven goal contributions in total.
Anthony Gordon is the breakout star of the entire Champions League, ✅ or ❌?
Anthony Gordon is living up to Joe Cole’s Champions League expectations
Two of them came in Newcastle’s 2-2 draw against Bayer Leverkusen, as Gordon continues to prove why Joe Cole was right to back him in the Champions League before a ball was kicked.
Ahead of the 2025/26 Champions League campaign, the former Chelsea playmaker was asked to give his predictions by TNT Sports.
Cole predicted that Barcelona would win the entire competition, while he backed Gordon to be the breakout star.
That seemed a very bold prediction at the time, but Gordon has done a wonderful job in proving Cole right. It was not quite as outlandish as it first appeared, with Gordon scoring or assisting in four out of six games so far.
He has been excellent in Europe, but now Gordon must replicate that form in the Premier League.
Fortunately, the 24-year-old is suddenly showing signs of consistency. He scored against Tottenham Hotspur and Burnley, and will hope to continue his streak against Sunderland on Sunday.
How would you rate Anthony Gordon’s current form out of 10? Feels like he’s on his way back 😍
Another big showing from the England star!
Only Kylian Mbappe is outperforming Anthony Gordon in the Champions League
A lot has been said about Gordon’s performances this season. The winger has been heavily criticised for not being near the level he is capable of.
However, his numbers speak for themselves.
So far in the Champions League, only Kylian Mbappe has more goal contributions than Gordon. The World Cup winner has got nine goals and assists in total, compared to Gordon’s seven.
Gordon is joined on seven by Marseille forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, with two of his coming in the 2-1 win over Newcastle.
| Player | UCL goal contributions |
| Kylian Mbappe | 9 |
| Anthony Gordon | 7 |
| Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang | 7 |
Whether Gordon can surpass Mbappe will depend on how deep Newcastle go into the competition, with Real Madrid always seen as contenders to go all the way.