\n<\/p>\n
What few people knew at the time was that Gordon had been in bed ill for three days. <\/p>\n
He was unable to even take part in a walkthrough session on the morning of the Barca match. <\/p>\n
As much as Gordon nonetheless felt “ready to start” that evening, it was head coach Eddie Howe who made the final decision to bench him after speaking to the club’s medical team.<\/p>\n
“When I got to the stadium the manager told me I wasn’t playing, which I didn’t like very much, but that’s his decision and the team played well,” he said.<\/p>\n
“Saying I didn’t want to play in the biggest game of my career is absolute nonsense. <\/p>\n
“I think Rooney said I went past and didn’t shake their hands and went into the changing room. I didn’t. <\/p>\n
“I got changed by myself in a changing room the size of this. It was just me and a sink. Complete nonsense. I think they need to do better at what they are doing.”<\/p>\n
Howe and Gordon were in agreement that he was fit enough to start at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. The 25-year-old certainly looked it.<\/p>\n
His goal proved the difference against Chelsea, but Gordon’s selfless work without the ball was crucial to this win, too.<\/p>\n
Gordon led Newcastle’s press from the front – making more high-intensity pressures in the opposition half than any other player – and also raced back to help his team-mates on a number of occasions.<\/p>\n
At one point, just as it looked like Chelsea captain Reece James was about to get a shot away from a dangerous position, Gordon sprinted back to make a challenge, taking a nasty knock in the process.<\/p>\n
No wonder so many members of the coaching staff and a number of Gordon’s team-mates made a beeline for him at full-time.<\/p>\n
“He’s so single-minded and focused on what he needs to do that a lot of the noise just brushes off him, which is a great thing to be able to do if you’re him,” Howe said. <\/p>\n
“I’d encourage every player to do it. Don’t get distracted, don’t absorb it, don’t take anything in – just focus on what you need to do.<\/p>\n
“That’s what he always does. He’s been in a really good place of late. I’ve been very happy with what he’s delivered. This was a big game and he really stepped up. He scored the goal but contributed in so many ways to the win.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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