What Eddie Howe has demanded from Anthony Gordon on his Goodison Park return

Saturday's game for Newcastle United will hold extra significance for one player. Anthony Gordon makes another, and possibly final, return to Goodison Park after his acrimonious split with the club in January 2023 when he joined the Magpies.

Anthony Gordon was chased out of the stadium by angry Everton fans shortly before he engineered his £45 million escape to Newcastle and despite being one of their own, the Everton fans will not let Gordon forget about the way in which he left their club.

While Gordon has been back to Goodison Park with Newcastle before, he's barely affected those games in the way we imagine he'd like to.

With Everton set to move to a new stadium next season, this could be the last time Gordon gets a chance to hit a goal in his old hunting ground. The only other possibility being an away draw in the FA Cup against the Toffees, but the odds are very much against that happening.

Eddie Howe feels each return to Everton will make it easier for Anthony Gordon

Naturally, Eddie Howe was asked about how Gordon will handle his return in his Friday morning press conference with Howe admitting that it does present an extra challenge.

“Having been back there twice, I think each time will get slightly easier for Anthony but still he’ll be emotional. He’s human and there will be lots of things going through him but as long as he focuses on himself.

“He was excellent last week when he led the line for us, really good on and off the ball. You need your focal point in attack to deliver certain aspects that help the team so all I ask is that he does that tomorrow.”

The hostile crowd could give Gordon more incentive

Howe was then asked if the negative atmosphere could have the opposite affect and spur on Gordon.

“It's difficult to predict. He's a human being and will be emotional going into the game, all players will be emotional going into the game because they're representing the football club and they're in a heightened state of emotion in that moment when we're playing.

"I just want to see Anthony play his game.”

We're really hoping that Gordon has a blinder and hits the back of the net in front of those Everton fans.