'Never in a million years': Ally McCoist spits facts when discussing Anthony Gordon's role at Newcastle United
Anthony Gordon is slowly getting back to his best self after a difficult year at Newcastle United last season.
After having no break for almost three years and then a summer of transfer speculation where Gordon had convinced himself he was heading to his boyhood club, Liverpool, the former Everton man really struggled for consistency last season.
Thankfully, he was afforded some time to rest this summer and has come back refreshed and hungry. There are still elements of his game that need working on to say that he's truly back to his best form, but we have noticed a great improvement.
That is in spite of the fact that for the first few games of the season, Gordon was once again being played out of position, something that infuriates us, and we're sure many others, when we see his name in the striker role on the teamsheet.
Ally McCoist doesn't see Anthony Gordon as a No. 9
TalkSPORT's Ally McCoist has hit the nail on the head when discussing Anthony Gordon, saying 'never in a million years' is he a striker.
“I mean Anthony Gordon I think he’s a terrific player and I enjoy watching him. Never a number nine in a million years. Never in a million years. Could he be a stop gap and could he play there? Yes.”
“I don’t think there’s any doubt he could do it. But if you’re going to there’s absolutely no way anybody can convince me Anthony Gordon’s a number nine does a lot of his best stuff from wide areas and that for me is where he should play.”
Ally McCoist says Gordon can play No. 9 as a stopgap - Not for us
Honestly, we're not even sure he's good there as a stopgap. Other than a penalty, Gordon is yet to score for Newcastle when played as a number nine. His first goal this season came in a game where he started as a centre-forward, but the goal came after he was moved out to the left.
That said it all for us. We know that Gordon fancies himself as a centre-forward, and Eddie Howe seems to think he can play there too, but for us, he is simply not the answer.
We'd much rather put the headless chicken that is Will Osula up there and keep Gordon on the left where he belongs.
