Anthony Gordon ‘hurt’ by Everton statement following Newcastle United move

Anthony Gordon has revealed he was hurt by a short statement released by former club Everton in the aftermath of his move to Newcastle United - but insisted he will ‘always be rooting’ for the Toffees.

The Merseyside-born winger joined Everton’s academy as an 11-year-old and made his senior debut in a Europe League win at Cypriot club Apollon Limassol in December 2017. He would have to wait until the first month of 2020 to make a Premier League debut and his promise was rewarded with a new five-year deal during the following summer.

The England Under-21 winger made 78 appearances for the Toffees and played a part in their successful fight against relegation from the Premier League last season, scoring four goals during the campaign. His form led to Gordon receiving a number of personal honours at the club’s end-of-season awards - but he received little credit in a short statement released by the Goodison Park club confirming his £40m move to Tyneside in January.

Reflecting on the statement, Gordon told Sky Sports: “It hurt me a little bit, I’m not going to lie to you.

“I thought I’m a 22-year-old lad I’m not going to handle every situation in life perfectly but as a club with thousands of people working for them, I think the effort I gave them last year, I was a massive part in keeping the club up. Players player, manager’s player of the year, so for them to not really show me any credit or thank me for anything it hurt me a little bit.”

Gordon was one of a number of Toffees players to receive criticism from supporters after their side endured a challenging start to the current Premier League side.

The Magpies winger admitted it was always going to be ‘really difficult once things like that happen’ but is adamant he will continue to root for his former club from afar as he looks to help Newcastle in their bid for a return to European competition.

He said: “My whole life has been at Everton. I grew up in Everton, I wasn’t going out with friends and stuff when I was younger, I was always in Everton so it was a massive place in my heart and in my life which I’ll never forget. From afar I will always be rooting for them and wishing them the best. I think it is really difficult (supporters being unhappy) once things like that happen it’s hard to recover from, especially because I’m from them there, I grew up on those streets.”

Gordon will hope to make his first start at St James Park when Newcastle host Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday afternoon.