Anthony Gordon ruled out of two games as Newcastle United boss delivers update amid Liverpool links

The Magpies winger’s 2023-24 campaign only ended three weeks ago after he was part of the England squad that reached the Euro 2024 final.

Instead of calling Gordon back for the trip to Tokyo, where Newcastle take on Urawa Red Diamonds and Yokohama F. Marinos, Howe has waited until the following week when Girona and Stade Brestois visit St James’ Park for the ‘Sela weekender’.

That will be the last opportunity for Newcastle to get minutes into Gordon’s legs with the new Premier League season kicking off a week later against Southampton.

Confirming which internationals player would be flying to the Far East, Howe said: “Miggy {Almiron] and Fabian [Schar] will join us. Martin [Dubravka] will join us. [Kieran Trippier] Tripps and Anthony [Gordon] will be the week after. Bruno [Guimaraes] yeah. How could I forget him?!”

Howe recently played down fears that Gordon will return to Newcastle for pre-season feeling unsettled.

The Magpies held talks with Liverpool over the potential sale of Gordon when desperately attempting to raise funds before June 30 in order to comply with Premier League Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

In the end, Newcastle managed to avoid having to sell Gordon plus other key assets such as Guimaraes and Alexander Isak. However, it meant sacrificing two of their most promising youngsters in Yankuba Minteh and Elliot Anderson, who joined Brighton & Hove Albion and Nottingham Forest, respectively, for a combined £68million.

There have been suggestions that the exit talk has unnerved Gordon, particularly with his boyhood club being mentioned, but Howe is confident that the 23-year-old will arrive back on Tyneside ready for the campaign ahead.

“I’m confident he is ok,” said Howe. “I think you can only judge Anthony on what he has given Newcastle on the pitch. He’s been committed. We’ve had no conversations over the summer where it has been fractious or negative.

“He’s always been the Anthony Gordon who has given absolutely everything to Newcastle and I want to make that clear to all our supporters."

Howe added: “I’d welcome him back with three arms if I had them! He’s such an important player for us, we didn’t want to lose anybody. Why would we want to lose our best players? We fought really hard to make the right decisions. In those last few weeks it was very, very difficult.

“He’s an integral part of what we’re doing. He needs a bit of a break. By the time he comes back he’s ready to go.”