'Scratching their heads': Jeff Stelling makes call on Anthony Gordon for England that he thinks many won't like

Hartlepool-born Jeff Stelling has often been an advocate for the North East during his time on Sky Sports News often leaping to the defence of Newcastle United and the city when southern-based media have been unfair.

While not a Newcastle supporter, Jeff Stelling has often been the voice of reason for The Magpies on Sky Sports before he defected to TalkSPORT.

We'll never forget Stelling's rant at, now co-worker, Alan Brazil after the human blood vessel took a pop at Newcastle on the radio, with Stelling leaping to the city's defence on Soccer Saturday putting Alan Brazil firmly in his place.

So we aren't too surprised that when picking his starting XI on TalkSPORT for England's upcoming Euro 2024 opener against Serbia, he has picked Newcastle's Anthony Gordon.

Jeff Stelling thinks his selection will be controversial

Stelling felt like he'd come in for some stick for his choice, not so much for picking Gordon, but for leaving out Phil Foden, and to be honest, he has a point when it comes to his justification.

“I am going to pick Palmer just ahead of Bukayo Saka. Saka has had a bit of a knock, not quite back to 100% I think, Palmer showed enough against Iceland.

“[Cole] Palmer, [Harry] Kane and Anthony Gordon, who I thought was our biggest threat for most part of the night. He has been in brilliant form, and everybody is going to batter me because there is no Phil Foden.

“But Foden, four goals in 34 games for England. I think Gareth Southgate and his staff are scratching their heads as to how to get the best out of Phil Foden for England.”

Can Anthony Gordon keep Phil Foden out of the England side?

There's no doubt that Phil Foden is one of the best players in the Premier League, but he's right, the lad just hasn't yet managed to replicate that form in an England shirt, but he is too good not to put on the pitch. All it takes is one game for it to click and he'll be away.

That being said, we wouldn't sacrifice Gordon for Foden because as Stelling said, Gordon was England's most dangerous player on Friday, and was also one of their best players when he made his debut against Brazil.

It's a tough call, and we've been around long enough to know that it's the Newcastle lad who will get axed, but Jeff Stelling, Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Micah Richards all picked him to start, so maybe Southgate will too.