Anthony Gordon was unhappy with claims made by Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney this week (BBC)
Anthony Gordon has branded claims from Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney this week as ‘nonsense’ following Newcastle United’s 1-0 win over Chelsea on Saturday.
Gordon returned to Newcastle’s starting line-up and scored the winning goal at Stamford Bridge after being benched against Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday night due to illness.
The 25-year-old played 23 minutes in the 1-1 draw with Barcelona at St James’ Park but received criticism from both Shearer and Rooney.
Shearer, speaking on Prime Video before Newcastle’s tie against Barcelona, said: ‘Maybe I’m old school but if you’re fit enough to train in the morning, and I know he doesn’t feel well, but this is Barcelona at Newcastle for a place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. It would take something extraordinary to keep myself out of this game tonight.’
Meanwhile, Rooney was also working as a pundit for Prime Video for the Newcastle game against Barcelona and he gave his verdict on Gordon’s illness during Stick to Football’s latest episode this week.
‘Eddie Howe said before the game he probably has 20 or 30 minutes in him. So what is that telling you the sports scientists and doctors are saying? If you are ill, you are ill,’ Rooney said.
“It would take some extraordinary to keep myself or Les out!” 😳@AlanShearer on Anthony Gordon’s illness tonight 😬 pic.twitter.com/JfJcmbOtzD— Prime Video Sport UK (@primevideosport) March 10, 2026
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‘He walked past us before the game and said he wouldn’t shake our hands because he was ill and didn’t want us to catch something. But then he is in the dressing room and with his teammates.’
Addressing the claims from Shearer and Rooney after Newcastle’s win away to Chelsea this weekend, Gordon said on BBC’s Match of the Day: ‘Usually I don’t like to clear stuff up because I don’t care too much but this one does need clearing up because it was just nonsense.
‘I didn’t see but the stuff that the media guy told me was complete and utter stupidity. I was in bed for three days, missed training. I turned up on the day of the game, ready to start, I thought I was going to start.
Anthony Gordon scored Newcastle United’s winner against Chelsea (Getty)
‘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.
‘Saying I didn’t want to play in the biggest game of my career is absolute nonsense.
‘I think Rooney said I went past and didn’t shake their hands and went into the changing room. I didn’t. I got changed by myself in a changing room the size of this. It was just me and a sink.
‘So, complete nonsense. I think they need to do better at what they are doing.’
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