Anthony Gordon’s Champions League spree puzzles Newcastle after four at Karabagh | OneFootball

Anthony Gordon scored four in one half as Newcastle won 6-1 at Karabagh in a Champions League play-off first leg, yet his domestic return still lags. According to L'Équipe, neither the 24-year-old nor those around him can explain why he is more prolific in Europe than in the Premier League.

He was withdrawn on 68 minutes with the score at 5-1, then Newcastle added a sixth. The haul moved him to 10 Champions League goals this season, second only to Kylian Mbappé on 13.

By contrast, he has three Premier League goals, two of them penalties. He has voiced his bafflement, having joked in October that the Champions League ball suited him, and suggested the competition brings extra adrenaline and motivation, a childhood dream and the biggest stage.

Some supporters are irked, said Charlotte Robson of the True Faith podcast, believing he tailors his game to the calibre of opponent. His camp rejects that, arguing Newcastle are collectively sharper in Europe, 12th in the league phase with one foot in the last 16, but only 10th domestically with a stretched squad, citing recent examples at Aston Villa last season and Tottenham this season.

Former Newcastle winger Laurent Robert insists this group do not choose their matches, adding that English football is too demanding for such thinking. Neil Dewsnip, who coached Gordon with England’s under-18s in 2018, says he is better judged on roughly a dozen goals plus assists and defensive work, a stabilising presence, and notes Thomas Tuchel has often started him for England despite competition from Marcus Rashford, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish.

For now, his European purple patch continues to outstrip his league numbers.

Source: L'Équipe