Eddie Howe stuck to his word in Newcastle United’s final home game of what has been a difficult Premier League season.
Howe insisted he was looking to the future with his team selection and he followed through with that by snubbing Anthony Gordon altogether.
Gordon is expected to leave Newcastle this summer, which means he was denied an appearance on what could be his final home game on the club’s books.
Gordon overlooked in potentially his final ever home game
Newcastle beat West Ham 3-1 on Sunday and Gordon did not even get off the bench on a day where the departing Kieran Trippier and Emil Krafth were celebrated by the home fans.
As per Lee Ryder of The Chronicle, Gordon joined the rest of his teammates on their lap of appreciation after the final whistle.
It all looks like being a rather sour end to the 25-year-old’s career on Tyneside. Considering Gordon may never play for Newcastle again, one of his last actions for the club could well be the goal he scored against Sunderland back in March.
There is, of course, a chance he plays at Fulham next week but it would seem unlikely given everything we’ve seen from Howe in recent weeks.
Howe strongly hinted he wouldn’t play Gordon before the West Ham game
Speaking during Friday’s pre-match press conference, Howe said when explaining Gordon’s omission against Brighton and Nottingham Forest: “Anthony’s just come back from injury. I think the team has been playing well in his absence and with a partial view to the future, yes.”
The England international does appear to be leaving. Obviously, Bayern Munich or whoever else will need to agree a fee at some point, but the signs aren’t exactly pointing towards him staying.
Gordon will leave a complicated legacy at Newcastle when he does go. Electric at times but anonymous at others.
There will no doubt be some who believe he should have been given a chance to say goodbye, while it’s not hard to imagine others not being too outraged…