Eddie Howe has backed the 23-year-old to fight through his emotions as he returns to his boyhood club once again
Anthony Gordon will return to Goodison Park once again this weekend and his boss is backing him not to get distracted by his emotions when he takes on Everton. The Blues academy graduate moved to Newcastle United in January 2023, his controversial departure coming with the club in crisis.
The £45m deal ended a protracted saga in which Gordon handed in a transfer request to secure a move away from his boyhood club.
His departure was met with a blunt statement from Everton – though the money proved badly needed and reduced the extent of the Profit and Sustainability breach that led to the club’s second points deduction.
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Gordon has returned to Everton twice since the move. He was a late substitute the following April as Eddie Howe’s side inflicted a 4-1 defeat that pushed the Blues deeper into a relegation battle they would ultimately win on the final day of the season.
He then struggled as Everton thrashed Newcastle in December.
Despite failing to have an impact on that visit last year, the 23-year-old has only grown in stature since leaving Merseyside, winning the European Under-21 Championship then reaching the final with England in the senior competition in the summer.
With Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson injured he will be a key figure of his side’s attack on Saturday evening having scored from the penalty spot in Newcastle’s draw with Manchester City last weekend.
Asked whether he believes Gordon can fight through his emotions to replicate that form at Goodison, Magpies manager Howe told Chronicle Live: “I hope so and having been back there twice each time he goes back it will get slightly easier for Anthony.
“But still he will be emotional. He is human and he will have lots of things running through him as he plays the game.
“As long as he focuses on himself. I thought he was excellent last week, I thought he was really good on and off the ball. You need a focal point in attack and the delivery of certain aspects to help the team so all I ask is he does that again.”