Anthony Gordon ‘responds’ to Liverpool talks as Newcastle United unlock 17 y-/o gem

A Sean Longstaff brace and goals from Jacob Murphy and Anthony Gordon all netted in the first-half.

Next up is Stade Brestois this afternoon (kick-off 4pm) but first, here’s five takeaways from the Girona win.

Anthony Gordon back with a bang 

He only reported back for pre-season on Tuesday but Anthony Gordon was thrown into the action at St James’ Park - and he soon picked up where he left off. 

While there a few signs of rustiness, as you’d expect, the 23-year-old was a livewire down the left, and capped off his energetic display with a brilliantly taken goal to make it 3-0.

Not only was this Gordon’s first Newcastle appearance since May but his first since his future was caught up in the PSR madness at the end of June. 

Did talk of a move to boyhood club Liverpool unnerve him? If so then last night was a positive way to respond. Howe said this week the player’s head is very much on Newcastle and it’s hard to argue otherwise.

After getting through the first-half unscathed before his planned substitution it’d take a brave man to bet against Gordon starting the Premier League opener against Southampton in a week’s time

Trevan Sanusi… again!

We’ve seen plenty of youngsters look like a duck out of water when handed a chance in Newcastle’s first team but Trevan Sanusi, who replaced Gordon at half-time, has bucked the trend. 

The former Birmingham City winger has been introduced against Hull City, Urawa Red Diamonds, Yokohama F. Marinos and Girona and made an outstanding impression each time. 

It’ll likely take another injury crisis for Sanusi to get anywhere near Howe’s XI this Premier League season but that’s sort of beside the point.

There’s something special about this 17-year-old. You can just tell. If United can further develop him then they will have a maverick on their hands no doubt. 

Champions League, you’re having a laugh… 

For as excellent as Newcastle were, let’s take a minute to reflect on the standard of opposition. 

Girona were the success story of La Liga last season, finishing third to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in their history. Absolutely fantastic. 

Brutally though, there was nothing remotely ‘Champions League’ about them last night as their team of Premier League casts offs, including Paulo Gazzaniga, Daley Blind, Donny van de Beek, Oriol Romeu and Bryan Gil, were sent packing.

The level of opposition was questioned before the Sela weekender got underway. Let’s see if Stade Brestois can prove us wrong. 

John Ruddy serenaded

It was the first and possibly even last time John Ruddy got a runout in a Newcastle jersey at St James’ Park - and he made his mark… 

The veteran goalkeeper, who penned a one-year contract following his release from Birmingham City this summer, was brought on for the remaining quarter of an hour.

There were a couple of moments when Ruddy faced crosses into his box but his defence stood firm. 

Mainly, the former Norwich City man was left to soak up the Strawberry Corner’s calls of “Ruddy giz us a wave” before a chorus of “there’s only John Ruddy” followed.

Newcastle United’s starting XI vs Stade Brestois? 

Bearing in the mind the players that missed out against Girona, I’ve been able to piece together (I think!) the XI that will start versus Stade Brestois. 

The team picks itself really, with the exception of one midfield position. My guess is it’ll be Jay Turner-Cooke who comes in, a player who featured at Hull City and in Tokyo but wasn’t among the youngsters on the bench last night. 

Odysseas Vlachodimos, Kieran Trippier, Fabian Schar, Lloyd Kelly, Jamal Lewis, Bruno Guimaraes, Joe Willock, Jay Turner-Cooke, Miguel Almiron, Harvey Barnes, William Osula.