The worrying truth about Anthony Gordon - alarming Newcastle United stats laid bare

Not always, but sometimes, the eye test proves paramount. Facts can often be laid out bare to make an opinion look foolish.

We’ve all been there: you put your chips on the table and make a compelling case for X, Y and Z, only for some know-it-all to send the argument crashing down to earth with robust, concrete facts - one of life’s true, please-let-the-ground-swallow-me-up moments.

Not this time, however…

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For this is not an opinion piece, but rather a statistical breakdown to confirm what everyone is thinking: Anthony Gordon has regressed this season.

The deserved plaudits generated noise to earn him an England call-up last season. With all of those well-wishes, he is yet to receive much criticism for the below-par performances in 2024-25.

He was given a grace period in those early August and September games. And rightly so, with Gordon barely given a sit down for two years due to his England under-21 commitments.

Gareth Southgate gave the 23-year-old plenty of rest over the summer, much to the frustration of England fans, and many thought Gordon would return with a vengeance. Those prophecies have not transpired - with the winger looking a shadow of Newcastle’s talismanic figure.

Goals (0.34 goals per 90 minutes) and assists (0.31 assists) are the easy stats to measure. Compare that to 0.20 goals and 0.10 assists and the surface has only been scratched. Delve a little deeper, and Gordon’s woes are laid bare.

The former Everton man has recorded 1.58 shots, 3.66 progressive carries with the ball and has a 71.6 per cent pass completion rate this season. By comparison, his figures were 2.49 (shots), 4.30 (progressive carries) and 76.1 per cent (pass completion) in 2023-24.

Additionally, Gordon is completing fewer take-ons (3.66 per 90 minutes) than he did last year (4.14 per 90 minutes). Despite this, the amount of touches he has taken is almost identical (44.4 vs 44.9 per 90 minutes).

Accusations criticising his body language have also been levelled at the England star. Perhaps the fewer tackles (1.71 vs 1.19 per 90 minutes) or diminishing recoveries (3.89 vs 3.27 per 90) mean our eyes do not deceive us.

Whether fatigue or the new-contract curse is at play, Gordon must start delivering if Newcastle United are to have a successful season. Everyone adores him - and rightly so - but love also requires honesty and he has not been at the races of late.

No doubt, like the robust, concrete facts detailed at the start of this article, Gordon will produce his best performance in black and white to date at Selhurst Park and condemn these words to the scrap heap. But that would be met with a smile as wide as the Tyne as watching him in full swing is one of the Premier League’s most exciting experiences.

Gordon in 2023-24 (last season)

Goals: 0.34

Assists: 0.31

Shots: 2.49

Pass completion: 76.1%

Crosses: 3.46

Progressive carries: 4.30

Shot-creating actions: 4.45

Tackles: 1.71

Take-ons: 4.14

Touches: 44.4

Recoveries: 3.89

Gordon in 2024-25 (this season)

Goals: 0.20

Assists: 0.10

Shots: 1.58

Pass completion: 71.6%

Crosses: 5.05

Progressive carries: 3.66

Shot-creating actions: 4.05

Take-ons: 3.66

Tackles: 1.19

Touches: 44.9

Recoveries: 3.27