Luke Edwards Takes Aim: Gordon’s ‘Elite’ Tag Under Fire as Newcastle Winger Stalls

It’s been a bruiser of a week for Anthony Gordon. Not only did the Newcastle winger limp off in the midweek Champions League win over Athletic Club, he’s also taken a verbal volley from Luke Edwards, who reckons the 24-year-old isn’t operating at the “elite” level he thinks he is. Strong words, but after a limp start to the league campaign, it’s hard to argue the conversation isn’t warranted.

Injury setback deepens the gloom

Gordon was withdrawn during Newcastle’s 2-0 victory on Wednesday night, a recurrence of a nagging hip issue that’s left him a doubt for the trip to Brentford on Sunday. Eddie Howe isn’t guessing on the severity yet, but assessments are coming in the next few days. For a player searching for rhythm, it’s the last thing he needed.

Form that flatters to deceive

Here’s the rub. Gordon hasn’t registered a goal or assist across seven Premier League outings so far, and while he’s shown flashes in Europe—five contributions in the Champions League—he’s been miles off his sharpest domestically. The league numbers are stark: no Premier League goal since January’s 3-0 win over Wolves, no assist since a 3-1 victory at Southampton that same month. That’s a 21-game league drought hanging round his neck like a millstone.

Edwards’ verdict: standards slipping

Edwards hasn’t pulled any punches. He argues Gordon has drifted through matches at times—untidy on the ball, off the pace without it—and that such inconsistency weakens any claim to being a cornerstone of this Newcastle side. Put bluntly: if you’re truly elite, there is no debate about your place in the XI—form, fitness, and end product make the case for you.

Selection heat: Barnes knocking, England watching

There’s also the England angle. Thomas Tuchel has trusted Gordon in recent qualifiers, but that seat gets hot quickly when club form sags. If Howe turns to Harvey Barnes, as he may, Gordon’s World Cup prospects could dim. That’s not drama; that’s the reality of international football when competition bites.

What Gordon must fix—fast

The raw tools are there—pace, directness, a knack for unsettling full-backs—but the killer touch has gone missing in the Premier League. He needs crisper decision-making in the final third, more aggressive movement off the shoulder, and a return to the snappy pressing that made him such a nuisance last season. Above all, he needs that first scruffy league goal to break the dam.

Howe’s balancing act and the wider picture

Newcastle can’t wait forever for form to return, yet they also know Gordon’s ceiling is high. Howe has to decide whether minutes or a brief reset is best, especially with Brentford looming and the Champions League rhythm building. Punters weighing the Magpies’ momentum and Gordon’s fitness should keep an eye on the market movers via our best betting sites guide.

Bottom line

Edwards has lit the fuse, but the response is down to Gordon. Shake off the hip issue, rediscover that snarl, and make the left wing his again. Until then, the “elite” tag is on pause—and the shirt is up for grabs.