Anthony Gordon's Newcastle United issue clear to see but January transfer window could provide fix

Eddie Howe knows he has a versatile gem in his Newcastle United squad and his name is Anthony Gordon. Down the left, on the right or through the middle, the Magpies boss has no issue deploying the former Everton star in any role across the front three.

Saturday's 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace saw Gordon moved into a central striking role, with Harvey Barnes entering the field on the right, when Alexander Isak trudged off after only 22 minutes. “I decided to put Anthony Gordon up there and he has done a really good job for us when he has been up there previously. He did well and the lack of goalscoring opportunities isn’t on him, it is the team, we need to do better," Howe said after the Selhurst Park showing.

This is nothing new for Gordon, who has been switched from pillar to post all season as Howe seeks to find a settled 11. At Palace the natural left-winger started out on the right before his shift inside. At West Ham he was used on his favoured flank before being moved into a No 10 role briefly.

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Before the international break Gordon started on the right before switching to the left mid-game as Newcastle won at Nottingham Forest, while in wins over Arsenal and Chelsea he was also used on the right with Tino Livramento. Before that, a 0-0 draw with Brighton saw Gordon on the left, while he was a central striker for the draw against former club Everton.

Many have pointed to the fact Gordon is one of Newcastle's senior stars who have failed to fire at times this turn. Yet with such little consistency in his positioning, is it any wonder?

Newcastle have been keen to move on from their summer transfer window struggles but the failure, again, to strengthen at right-wing means Howe has now experimented with five players in that particular position so far this term. Gordon, who enjoyed his best campaign to date last season with a consistent run on the left, looks like a player who needs that stability again if he is rediscover his finest form.

As for the upcoming January window, signing a right-sided attacker would undoubtedly benefit Gordon - but may prove tricky due to Newcastle's ongoing profit and sustainability concerns. The word coming out of St James' Park is that they must sell before they can buy in what could prove to be another tricky trading period for the north east outfit.

Quizzed over the prospect of chasing another striker in the winter market, to aid with Newcastle's goal problems, Howe admitted: "Fully-fit Premier League strikers, who can score goals, will cost us an extortionate amount of money, that we don’t have. We have got to back the players that we do have.

“I know that we have got players who will score and create. I have got no issue with the quality of the players we have got."

Gordon will keep his head down and continue to try and help the team - whether that be out wide or through the middle - but you can't help feel the England international needs to be reinstated on the left in a bid to unlock his full potential once more.