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# I'm grateful to Eddie Howe for leaving me out at Newcastle - it was so important

- **Source:** 
- **Published:** 16 Jun
- **Club:** Newcastle United
- **Original URL:** https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/im-grateful-eddie-howe-leaving-34127573

The winger was an unused substitute in the Magpies' last four games of the season as Howe prioritised players who he knew would be at the club next season. Gordon's move away from St James' Park was long in the pipeline with Bayern Munich and Barcelona vying for his services.

It meant the 24-year-old was consigned to watching from the bench after recovering from injury before sealing a £70million move to Barcelona just a couple of weeks after the season ended.

Gordon is now hoping to make his mark on the World Cup, tipped to start on the left wing for the Three Lions in their opening game against Croatia on Wednesday night. It's a far cry from Euro 2024 when the player was left a frustrated figure, sat on the sidelines for the majority bar one late cameo.

Gordon revealed he had picked up an injury before that tournament, and had been determined to come into the World Cup fresh and without any knocks - and is grateful for Howe for allowing that to happen.

He told England’s media channel. “He had a lot going on right until the very end (of the season). I had a different end to the season in terms of… I wasn’t playing the last couple of games.

“So I feel mentally and physically in an amazing place. I’m very, very fresh. I think it’s very important.

“I went to the last tournament, the Euros, and I picked up an injury in the second-to-last game (for Newcastle). So it was very important for me this time to come in physically fresh and I’ve been able to do that. So I’m very grateful.”

It's in stark contrast to his former Newcastle teammate Tino Livramento, who suffered an injury-hit campaign. Despite recovering from a thigh strain which ruled him out of Newcastle's last half dozen games, and being picked by Thomas Tuchel for the squad to fly to USA, he has been forced out of the tournament after suffering a calf injury in training.

Livramento will now return to Tyneside for rehab on his injury and has been replaced in the squad by Chelsea's Trevor Chalobah.

Meanwhile, Gordon also claimed it took him just six Spanish lessons to master the language - despite being 'not intellectually smart' - after wowing Barcelona fans and media at his official unveiling.

He said: “It’s difficult. Everyone only sees the end results and assumes it’s easy. When you practice a little bit, it obviously becomes a lot easier. But it’s really difficult, you’re learning a completely new language.

“You’re trying to translate everything you’re thinking in English to Spanish. It’s really hard. I had six lessons (to learn Spanish). I’ve had nine now, I’ve had a couple more while I’ve been in camp. I’m not intellectually smart, to be honest.

“Like I said in my press conference, I’ve always kind of spoken a little bit of Spanish with my physio at Newcastle. But in terms of actual lessons, I’ve had nine now, six (to learn the language).”

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