NEWCASTLE’S SECRET SUPERSTAR HAS BEEN RIGHT UNDER EDDIE HOWE’S NOSE THE WHOLE TIME… AND HE’S ABOUT TO EXPLODE

It may not have matched the eye-catching heights of the previous week, but Anthony Gordon still departed the Etihad Stadium on Saturday with his standing as one of the Premier League’s most threatening attackers fully reinforced.

For Newcastle United, the timing of his evolution could hardly be better. Under the guidance of Eddie Howe, Gordon is refining his game in a way that could have a decisive impact on the club’s push for European qualification.

What he delivers between now and the season’s conclusion may go a long way toward determining whether the Magpies extend their continental adventure into next term.

The absence of Bruno Guimarães through injury left a creative and emotional void in midfield, demanding others assume greater responsibility.

Gordon has answered that call emphatically. His talent has never been in question, but this campaign has presented different tactical challenges.

Domestically, opponents have grown wise to Newcastle’s strengths, particularly at St James’ Park. Many now retreat into compact defensive blocks, surrender possession, and wait for counter-attacking opportunities.

In such scenarios, Gordon has often found himself deprived of space — the very commodity that fuels his explosive style.

A glance at his Champions League outings, where Newcastle have encountered more open contests, illustrates that his quality has not dipped.

Rather, the constraints of Premier League match dynamics have limited his influence.

Without the penetrating runs of Alexander Isak stretching backlines, Gordon has regularly been confronted by two or even three defenders.

With minimal movement ahead of him and little room to accelerate into, his tireless work rate sometimes lacked the end product it deserved. The endeavour was always visible; the frustration occasionally was too.

A tactical adjustment has since provided fresh impetus. By drifting into a more central role, Gordon has not sacrificed his pace but instead discovered new avenues to exploit.

The positional tweak has enabled him to attack spaces between centre-backs and full-backs, disrupt defensive shapes, and link play more effectively.

Not every defence will be as accommodating as Qarabağ FK were in Europe, when he produced a breathtaking first-half display that yielded four goals.

Yet his performances away at Tottenham Hotspur and against Manchester City demonstrated that his impact is not solely reliant on space.

At Spurs, his intelligent movement created the decisive opening for Jacob Ramsey’s winner. At the Etihad, his darting runs repeatedly unsettled City’s back line.

Even the accomplished Rúben Dias struggled to contain him, resorting to a desperate foul in the first half to halt one surging break.

It was a moment that underlined Gordon’s growing influence and the problems he poses to elite opposition.

For Newcastle to truly capitalise, they must commit runners to support him — no simple task against a side capable of devastating counters.

Still, when teammates advance in numbers, Gordon’s awareness and timing make him exceptionally difficult to manage.

Howe has consistently praised that intelligence, highlighting not just Gordon’s pressing intensity but his understanding of when and how to apply it.

Turnovers forced by his anticipation have directly led to goals, a testament to judgement rather than fortune.

With a place in England’s World Cup squad at stake, Gordon might understandably wish to cement himself in his preferred flank role.

However, his recent displays suggest that versatility may be his greatest asset. By adding a potent central dimension to his repertoire, he has strengthened both Newcastle’s ambitions and his own international credentials in equal measure.