Anthony Gordon has responded to comments from Manchester United icon Wayne Rooney on his absence for Newcastle against Barcelona

Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon has responded to Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney after emphasising his eagerness to feature for the Magpies against Barcelona on Tuesday evening.

The Merseyside-born winger scored the decisive goal against Chelsea to secure all three points for Newcastle at Stamford Bridge on Saturday night.

He is now focused on facing the Spanish giants in the second leg of their Champions League round of 16 clash.

Gordon’s omission from the starting XI in the first leg had left pundits, including Rooney, questioning why he wasn’t in the line-up, but the forward revealed he had been confined to bed for three days beforehand.

Roy Keane had also wondered why the attacker was fit enough to appear as a substitute but not from the kick-off – however, Gordon disclosed he was keen to start, only for Eddie Howe to inform him he would be on the bench.

FOLLOW OUR MAN UNITED FB PAGE! Latest news and analysis via the MEN’s Manchester United Facebook page

Gordon told 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.”

Alan Shearer said it would take “something extraordinary to keep myself out of this game”.

Rooney, who was working as a pundit for Prime Video, had questioned why Gordon “wouldn’t shake our hands” beforehand only to then “sit in a dressing room with his team-mates”.

Gordon added: “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. Complete nonsense. I think they (pundits) need to do better at what they are doing.”

Speaking at his press conference on Friday, Howe said: “He trained yesterday. He feels better I do have to clear something up with Anthony Gordon.

“So he was absolutely willing to play in the game, there have been a lot of comments.

“It was my decision not to start him based on the fact he’d been ill that morning and not attended the training session. He was prepared to play but in consultation with the medical team we didn’t think he was fit.”

Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more

£49

£35

Sky

Get Sky Sports here

Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the 2025/26 season, saving £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.

Sky shows at least 215 live Premier League games each season, an increase of up to 100, plus Formula 1, darts, golf and more.