Eddie Howe’s message for Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon after touchline spat

Gordon, himself a half-time substitute, reacted angrily after being taken off late in the third-placed club’s 2-1 victory at the Gtech Community Stadium this afternoon.

The winger was replaced by Matt Ritchie five minutes in added time. Gordon, signed from Everton for £45million in January, was unhappy at coming off, and Howe spoke to him on the pitch after the game, which was decided by second-half goals from Joelinton and Alexander Isak.

“I’ve got no problem (with Gordon),” said Howe. “Anthony’s passionate boy. He wants to do well, but there was seconds left on the clock, and we wanted to get Matty on, because Anthony was holding his ankle.”

Howe added that 22-year-old Gordon – who had replaced winger Jacob Murphy at the break – needed to “control his emotions in that moment”.

United’s head coach added: “He just needs to control his emotions in that moment, but there are no problems.”

Gordon had suffered an ankle injury in last month’s defeat to Manchester City.

In another interview, Howe said: "From my side, there was 30 seconds left, and he (Gordon) was down holding his ankle, so I put an experienced player on the pitch.

“It’s no reflection on his time on the pitch (to take him off)."