EVERYONE thought that Newcastle had their pants pulled down by Everton after splashing £40million on Anthony Gordon in January.
And they were howling when, in Toon’s Amazon Prime documentary, co-owner Amanda Staveley insisted the “extraordinary” Scouser would be “one of the best players in the league”.
Well, fast forward 11 months and the Magpies are having the last laugh as demands for a first England call-up grow.
Hounded out of Goodison Park, Toffees fans were convinced they had offloaded a supposed bad egg.
But after six goals and three assists this term the winger is well on his way to justifying the fee — as well as Staveley’s prophecy.
A first return to his boyhood club came in April as a late sub with the Toon 4-1 up and Goodison half empty.
READ MORE TOP STORIES
But the home fans will be baying for blood tonight with the forward’s acrimonious exit still fresh in the memory.
After a 2-1 January defeat by Southampton, a furious mob — who did not think he was up for the relegation fight — chased his car following what was his last Everton game.
And Magpies boss Eddie Howe urged the red-hot Gordon to block out the noise and silence the boo boys.
Howe said: “It will be an explosive atmosphere.
Most read in Football
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFER
“Anthony has to be prepared for whatever reception he gets — but just focus on his football. That’s all he can do.
“If you think about things you can’t control, you take your mind off of what you can.
“He needs to control the things that make his performance as good as it can be, which he has been doing on a consistent basis recently.”
Gordon, 22, struggled to adapt to Howe’s demands but started this season on fire having been named Player of the Tournament as England won the Under-21 Euros over the summer.
Howe added: “I had no issue with him when he first signed, he just wanted everything there and then.
“He wanted to play, score goals and do well, which I understand and is natural but going to a new club is never easy. There’s always a transitional period, no matter how experienced you are.
“This season we’ve really seen him grow and develop because of his fitness levels being so high due to his work with England in the summer.”
Martin Dubravka replaces Nick Pope in goal tonight after the England keeper was ruled out for at least four months with a dislocated shoulder.
Toon may look for a replacement, with free agent David de Gea an option.
Read more on The Sun
Howe said: “We’ve not made any enquiries or decisions.
“This is a chance for the keepers we have to consolidate their positions.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
