It’s another big day for Anthony Gordon, and a real opportunity to prove himself against his former club. Interestingly, that’s something Alan Shearer had no issues doing 29 years ago.
Newcastle United face Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday evening looking to register back-to-back Premier League wins for the first time this season.
While many will be keen to see whether Eddie Howe includes Nick Pope in his starting XI, there are also question marks over Anthony Gordon’s place in the team.
Can you name the player?
Only the biggest Newcastle United fans will be able to crack this mystery… let us know in the comments if you have the answer.
Newcastle fans were fuming with Gordon in midweek after a dire showing up front against Marseille. Howe has been told in no uncertain terms not to play the 24-year-old there again.
If he wants to redeem himself, though, he only needs to look at what Alan Shearer did 29 years ago for Newcastle when he visited his former club, Blackburn Rovers, for the first time.
Alan Shearer scored on return to Blackburn Rovers in 1996
29 years ago, on the 14th September 1996, Shearer returned to face Blackburn for the first time since leaving the club to join the Magpies in a British record £15m deal.
He played a key role in helping Newcastle win the game, too, slotting away a penalty on the stroke of half-time. Pressure? What pressure?
A goal from Les Ferdinand 15 minutes later put the game beyond doubt, and a Chris Sutton goal for Blackburn ten minutes from time was little more than a consolation for Rovers.
Obviously, it was a big moment for Shearer. He had the weight of that massive transfer fee hanging over him, as well as the eyes of the Blackburn supporters willing him to miss from 12 yards, but putting the ball in the back of the net there was the perfect message to send to everyone.
Anthony Gordon needs to make amends for Newcastle
The parallels between Shearer and Gordon are clear, in this circumstance, at least. Sadly, for Gordon, the chance to make that kind of impact upon returning to face his former club has already been and gone.
Gordon stepped up to take a penalty against Everton last season and saw his shot saved by Jordan Pickford.
That miss obviously led to a lot of stick coming Gordon’s way from both sets of fans. He’s still a long way off establishing himself as a Newcastle United legend as things stand, but a goal against Everton this weekend would help a little.
Where should Anthony Gordon play against Everton?
Eddie Howe may have to risk upsetting the winger😬
After that failed experiment with Gordon in midweek, Howe will surely revert and put the Englishman on the wing, where he could and should have more influence on the game.
Gordon was anonymous against Marseille. He cannot afford to do the same this weekend.
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