A clear message has been sent by Anthony Gordon to his teammate, Nick Woltemade, following a disagreement over their roles at Newcastle United. But here's where it gets interesting... Gordon's performance in the Champions League has sparked a debate about his position on the pitch.
On a historic night for Newcastle, Gordon scored an impressive four goals against Qarabag, leading his team to a dominant 6-1 victory. This feat has sparked a discussion about his role as a striker, a position he has been advocating for.
With 14 goals to his name this season, 10 of which came in the Champions League, Gordon has proven his worth. Only Kylian Mbappé of Real Madrid has scored more in the Champions League, yet Gordon's Premier League tally stands at just three goals, two of which were penalties.
This disparity has been a topic of conversation, but head coach Eddie Howe has praised Gordon's impact since moving to a more central role. Meanwhile, Woltemade has impressed in a deeper position.
"I think he's been excellent as a striker," Howe said of Gordon. "He's shown a real desire to play there, and his qualities are evident. His pressing against Qarabag was incredible, and it created numerous counter-attack opportunities for us."
Gordon himself has expressed his love for playing as a striker, despite often being deployed as a left-winger for Newcastle and England. "I'm always confident and back myself. I've said it before, I love playing number nine."
However, a controversial moment arose during the game against Qarabag when Gordon insisted on taking a second penalty, having already scored a hat-trick. Newcastle captain Kieran Trippier seemed to take issue with this decision, potentially creating a rift within the team.
Woltemade, who recently had a penalty taken away from him by Bruno Guimaraes, has also experienced mixed results from the spot. Gordon, on the other hand, has an impressive 100% conversion rate from penalties, with eight out of his 14 goals coming from the spot.
"No one was taking that ball from me! I worked hard for it," Gordon stated. He added, "It's about the team. If the team doesn't win, individual success means nothing."
So, who should be taking penalties for Newcastle? Is Gordon's determination to take penalties a sign of confidence or arrogance? These questions are sure to spark debate among fans and players alike.
As Newcastle prepares for upcoming matches against Manchester City in both the Premier League and the FA Cup, the penalty-taking debate is sure to continue. Will Gordon's confidence pay off, or will it create division within the team? Only time will tell.
What do you think? Should Gordon be Newcastle's designated penalty taker? Let us know in the comments!
