Anthony Gordon filled his boots and then some by scoring four against Qarabag last week. Two of the 24-year-old\u2019s haul were from the spot, but the Newcastle United winger was rampant as the Magpies all but confirmed their place in the last 16 of this season\u2019s Champions League.<\/p>\n
Qarabag visit the North East this week for the last 32 second leg, but the Azerbaijan champions only have pride to play for. Eddie Howe could feasibly rest Gordon such is his importance to Newcastle\u2019s chances of making an even deeper run in the Champions League knockout rounds.<\/p>\n
Gordon\u2019s continental form is in stark contrast to his domestic struggles this season. While Gordon has 10 goals and two assists in just nine Champions League appearances, he has registered just five goal contributions in 21 Premier League games. He\u2019s been a different player in Europe.<\/p>\n
As a whole, Newcastle have been a different team in Europe too. Howe\u2019s side are sitting slumped in the bottom half of the Premier League table following Saturday\u2019s defeat to Manchester City while the Magpies have more than held their own against Europe\u2019s best in the Champions League.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s been a similar story for Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur. While Premier League opponents have been able and willing to sit deep and frustrate clubs with bigger budgets and better players, Champions League sides are more inclined to play their own game. That has suited Gordon and Newcastle.<\/p>\n
Howe deployed Gordon through the middle against Qarabag to give Newcastle greater threat in quick transition. This is a ploy the Magpies manager has used many times over the course of the season so far as Newcastle continue to shuffle the pack in the final third of the pitch from game-to-game.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnthony has some really good qualities in that position [centre-forward],\u201d said Howe when asked about Gordon\u2019s role in the Newcastle United forward line and his duties in the team. \u201cHis pressing intensity but also his tactical understanding of when to do it and how to do it is of the very highest level.\u201d<\/p>\n
After a fast start to life on Tyneside, Nick Woltemade has struggled for consistent output in recent matches. The German initially made an impact as an attacking focal point, getting on the end of crosses into the box and causing general mayhem, but looks increasingly isolated in his performances for Newcastle.<\/p>\n
Injury meant summer signing Yoane Wissa had to wait for his Newcastle debut and has shown good finishing instincts at times, netting three goals in a black and white shirt. Howe, however, is struggling to find the right attacking formula with Harvey Barnes and Gordon also part of the rotation.<\/p>\n
Having spent \u00a345m to sign Gordon from Everton three years ago, Newcastle placed a lot of faith in the England international and his development. They signed Gordon in the belief he would grow into one of the most dangerous wide players in the Premier League. Domestically, though, he has regressed this season.<\/p>\n
Newcastle\u2019s season could be defined by how much further they can go in the Champions League. They have a round of 16 tie to look forward to and have already demonstrated their capacity for upsetting the best teams in Europe – see how Paris Saint-Germain were dismantled by the Magpies two seasons ago.<\/p>\n
If Gordon keeps up his continental form, Newcastle could do something special. The space afforded to him by Champions League defences is unlike the challenge he frequently faces in the Premier League, when opponents are more likely to sit deep and stay compact. Gordon could add to his tally before his Champions League campaign is over.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Anthony Gordon filled his boots and then some by scoring four against Qarabag last week. Two of the 24-year-old\u2019s haul were from the spot, but the Newcastle United winger was rampant as the Magpies all but confirmed their place in the last 16 of this season\u2019s Champions League.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":48,"featured_media":54847,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[643],"tags":[272],"class_list":["post-58108","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sport","tag-featurehome"],"yoast_head":"\n