Eddie Howe Urges Anthony Gordon to Ignore Noise on Everton Return

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has urged Anthony Gordon to ignore the potential backlash from Everton fans when he returns to Goodison Park on Thursday. Gordon, 22, left Everton for Newcastle in January for £45m and is expected to receive a hostile reception. Howe said, “I don’t want it to become a big talking point in the game. For me, [Gordon’s return] is not important. It’s important for Anthony and it’s important that he comes through the game in a good way. It is important that the team functions and we show our best selves.” Howe praised Gordon’s attitude in training despite his recent clash with the manager after being substituted in the win at Brentford this month. He said, “I can only really comment on the player that I’ve seen and he’s been very, very good, trained really well, as I’ve said many times, very passionate, wants to achieve, wants to do really well in his career.” Howe wouldn’t commit to starting Gordon but plans to talk to him individually before the game. He said, “I’ll speak to him on a one-to-one level, of course. That wouldn’t be abnormal in preparation for any game. It’s me trying to pick the best team to win the game, whether than includes Anthony or not. It’s not about Anthony having to prove anything to Everton – that would be the wrong way of looking at it. I have to pick a team that I think has the best tools to hurt them. I will always take the emotion out of the decision, you can never pick a team based on one player of what it might do for them.” Newcastle’s 6-1 victory over Tottenham on Sunday saw them move up to third in the Premier League, five points clear of fifth-placed Aston Villa with two games in hand. Howe wants his team to remain focused as they approach their final seven matches. He said, “I think it’s hugely important that we don’t settle, that after a victory like we had on Sunday we don’t sit back and relax with that and that is the wrong emotion. We have to use the confidence we have from the game, the way we played, the manner of the performance, and use it to fuel us even more to try and recreate those moment again. That is the reaction we need.”