5 days ago
14
Newcastle 3-0 PSV
©IMAGO
Newcastle United fans worship club icon Alan Shearer for many reasons, one of them being his remarkable goalscoring exploits during his 10-year spell with the club. While Anthony Gordon may not have any realistic chance of matching his record as the Premier League's all-time goalscorer with 260 goals, the England international is on the verge of emulating the Toon hero in a different area. After finding the net in a 3-0 Champions League win over PSV Eindhoven, Gordon has entered new territory by matching Shearer's best return in a single Champions League campaign.
It was a gift of a goal in truth. PSV defender Yarek Gasiorowski committed a calamitous error at the back with a feeble pass back and Yoane Wissa seized upon the loose ball, before setting up Gordon for a tap-in. But the pressing involved was another exhibition of Eddie Howe's excellent coaching, as it proved for the first goal when Joelinton set up Wissa to open the scoring eight minutes gone. Harvey Barnes added a third on 65 minutes, and he is also enjoying a fine campaign in Europe, scoring his fifth of the competition.
The 24-year-old reaching the six-goal mark means he has equalled the most by a Newcastle player in a single Champions League campaign. Shearer also scored six back in 2002/03, putting Gordon immediately among elite Toon company in the history books.
With the Magpies still to play PSG on Matchday 8 and guaranteed to secure their progress to the play-off round at least, the Liverpudlian only needs one more goal to snatch the record for himself. He already has secured the most goal contributions for a single edition of the competition in Newcastle colours, with six goals and two assists meaning he leapfrogs Shearer on seven.
Gordon's mystifying Premier League struggles
Gordon has struggled to find form in the Premier League this season, bagging just twice in 17 appearances. That only makes his incredible goalscoring run in Europe all the more puzzling, but Newcastle won't be too bothered by the contrast. His strike against PSV was his sixth goal in seven appearances, putting him level with Manchester City talisman Erling Haaland, and only Harry Kane can boast more goals from an Englishman in Europe's premier club competition with seven.
There were inevitable questions that surrounded Gordon's €45.6 million move to St James' Park in 2023, but Howe will feel vindicated in his decision to splash out. Not only is the former Everton trainee thriving in the Champions League, he is a genuine contender to make Thomas Tuchel's England squad for the 2026 World Cup in June. Add in rumoured interest from Liverpool over the past 12 months and his rise to a €60m market value, and it's easy to pinpoint why Gordon is a fans' favourite on Tyneside.
