Why ex-Premier League striker is starting to ‘worry’ about Newcastle United star Anthony Gordon
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Former Premier League striker Troy Deeney is starting to ‘worry’ about Anthony Gordon as Newcastle United prepare to host Barcelona in the Champions League round of 16 on Tuesday.
Gordon has thrived in the Champions League this season - scoring ten goals - with only Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé scoring more (13). The winger will hope to add to his tally when Barcelona return to St James’ Park for the second time this season following the Magpies’ 2-1 defeat to the Catalonians in the league phase of the Champions League.
Marcus Rashford scored twice that night for Barcelona and it is expected to be between himself and Gordon for the left-wing position in England’s World Cup side this summer.
England boss Thomas Tuchel was in attendance for United’s 3-1 FA Cup defeat to Manchester City on Saturday but Gordon started on the bench as Eddie Howe admitted he was protecting some of his players ahead of Tuesday’s clash.
Writing in his Sun column, Deeney said playing under the expectations at Barcelona has helped Rashford thrive and fancies him to start over Gordon at the World Cup.
“Barcelona have now laid out to Rashford that ‘this is how we do things around here’. If you fall in line, the rewards will come - you’ll play for Barcelona, score goals and go to the World Cup with England,” Deeney said. “And if England were to kick off their World Cup campaign next week, I would have him starting on the left-hand side.”
Troy Deeney’s Anthony Gordon concerns
Gordon’s contract runs until 2030 and the 25-year-old has insisted he is happy at the club and enjoying his football again. But links with a move away from St James’ Park continue to surround the former Everton winger, with Deeney claiming he is falling into the ‘Rashford trap’.
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“I am starting to worry that the Newcastle winger is falling into the Rashford trap. Gordon looks like he’s starting to believe his own hype, believe that he can be bigger than Newcastle and deserves a move to somewhere like Arsenal or Liverpool. “Someone should intervene. Rashford, belatedly, took himself away from United and is thriving,” he added.
Gordon has only scored four times in the Premier League this season and three of those have come from the penalty spot - a stark contrast to his form in Europe.
“Gordon’s ten goals in the Champions League are making his performances this season look better than they have been. Four of those ten came against Qarabag,” Deeney added. “If you go off stats alone, Gordon starts. But if you actually watch the football and see the attitude of both players then it has to be Rashford.”
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