Anthony Gordon returned to the Newcastle United matchday squad against Brighton but was an unused sub in that 3-1 United victory.
Coming back from a minor hip flexor injury, speculation that he wasn’t really ready at that point to play any part unless in an emergency.
At Nottingham Forest this afternoon, same case scenario.
However, no doubt this time, with Eddie Howe happy to admit that Anthony Gordon wasn’t used at the City Ground because the Newcastle United boss is now “looking at the future.”
The Head Coach’s comments after the match the closest we have had so far to an official confirmation that Anthony Gordon is indeed set to be moving to another club this summer.
Reports of his agents meeting with both Bayern Munich and Barcelona, whilst then claims that a formal offer of a five year contract had been offered to the United star and that negotiations had started between Newcastle and Bayern.
Eddie Howe asked by BBC Radio Newcastle after the Forest match about why Anthony Gordon had stayed on the bench: “It was tactical…The team has performed well in Anthony’s absence. Obviously, we have gone with a bit more solidity with Joelinton playing wide and one winger the other side just to try and strengthen us defensively, because we weren’t happy with how we were defending. Since January, really, we have been disappointed – so a change of structure really. Ant has come back to fitness. He’s training well but, also, I’m looking at the future as well…”
It wasn’t just the Anthony Gordon non-selection. Kieran Trippier only came on in the very final seconds of added time for Bruno Guimaraes who looked very tired after a huge shift.
Trippier has already confirmed he is leaving this summer and left-back Lewis Hall was used at right-back with Tino Livramento, Emil Krafth and Lewis Miley all out injured.
Eddie Howe adding: “We have got one eye on the future…That has been clear with some of the decisions that I have made with the team, because we want to see some players, we want to see how they are going to grow into the team. I thought Jacob Ramsey was magnificent when he came on. He really made a big difference. As did Harvey [Barnes]. So it was great to see players stepping up and grabbing their opportunities when they come. It is our duty to try and look to the future and see what the new team is going to look like next year.”
Nottingham Forest 1 Newcastle United 1 – Sunday 10 May 2026 2pm
Match Stats
Goals:
Newcastle United:
Barnes 74
Forest:
Anderson 88
Possession was Newcastle 54% Forest 46%
Total shots were Newcastle 16 Forest 17
Shots on target were Newcastle 6 Forest 6
Corners were Newcastle 1 Forest 2
Touches in the opposition box Newcastle 28 Forest 23
Newcastle team v Forest:
Pope, Thiaw, Botman, Burn, Hall, Bruno (Trippier 95), Tonali, Joelinton, Jacob Murphy (Barnes 61), Woltemade (Ramsey 61), Osula (Wissa 71)
Unused subs:
Ramsdale, Gordon, Elanga, Willock, Alex Murphy