Newcastle injury boost as Anthony Gordon gives answer Harry Kane will love

ANTHONY Gordon has provided Newcastle United with a major injury boost after confirming he was quickly able to shake off the hip problem he suffered in the weekend win at Nottingham Forest.

Gordon headed straight down the tunnel when he was replaced at the City Ground after suffering a recurrence of the issue that he was troubled by last month.

Gordon was initially expected to have to withdraw from England duty but was desperate to represent his country and wanted to let the injury settle before he was closely assessed.

And the verdict was good news.

“I don’t think I have to say, [Newcastle] know how I feel about playing for England and knew my wishes anyway but it was more about coming here and getting assessed to see how I was and if I was fit to play," said the former Everton forward.

“I was and obviously if I’m fit I’m going to play for England.”

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Gordon's England desire will delight Harry Kane, who this week hit out at some of his teammates after a string of withdrawals.

England round off a mixed year against Greece in tonight's must-win Nations League match before a Wembley encounter against the Republic of Ireland on Sunday.

But interim boss Lee Carsley’s final camp has been hit by an eye-watering nine withdrawals, leading to suggestions that new head coach Thomas Tuchel’s delayed arrival has been taken advantage of.

The situation has irked Kane, who leads the side out at the Olympic Stadium in Athens knowing key players are absent for a match they must win to stand a chance of automatic promotion.

Asked if there was one thing former manager Gareth Southgate put in place that senior players need to ensure is not lost, the striker told ITV: “I think the joy to play for England. I think he brought that back.

“I think every camp people were excited to come, every camp people wanted to play for England and, yeah, that’s the most important thing.

“I think England comes before anything. England comes before club.

“England is the most important thing you play as a professional footballer and Gareth was hot on that and he wasn’t afraid to make decisions if, you know, that started to drift from certain players.”

Quizzed on whether he felt that might have drifted this week, Kane said: “It’s a shame this week obviously.

“Yeah, look, I think it’s a tough period of the season and maybe that’s been taken advantage of a little bit.

“I don’t really like it if I’m totally honest. I think, like I just said there, England comes before anything, any club situation.”