Alan Pardew believes Scotland target Anthony Gordon MUST be included in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for Euro 2024.
The Newcastle United winger is on Steve Clarke’s radar with the 22-year-old one of FOUR Magpies Anglo stars Scotland want to switch allegiances, along with Elliot Anderson who had a training stint before leaving the squad, Harvey Barnes and Tino Livramento.
Gordon, 22, qualifies for Scotland through his paternal grandparents but has been capped by England at various age group levels and was Player of the Tournament in the summer when the Three Lions won the European Under 21 Championships. Southgate recently said the former Everton man is “very close” to a call-up and ex Magpies boss Pardew said: “It’s all up for grabs but I’ve actually got Anthony Gordon as a MUST take because with the way he plays he’d be a good option off the bench. If I was Gareth I’d get him in the group. There’s just something about Gordon and Newcastle just now, there’s something exciting about him and I genuinely feel he could add something to the group.”
Pardew was talking on talkSPORT where Wales strike legend Dean Saunders was asked about his comments. He said: “He’s definitely working harder than when he played for Everton. I watched him play for Everton and wasn’t playing like he is now. The main ingredients you need as a footballer is effort, work rate, unselfishness and the will to win and the will to get the better of the person you’re playing against every Saturday and then the talent comes after that. He’s now got that bit – Eddie Howe has sat him down.