Anthony Gordon injury update from Eddie Howe ahead of Brighton visit

Anthony Gordon missed Newcastle United's last two games with a conveniently timed hip injury, but returned to training this week ahead of the meeting with Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday.

Eddie Howe spoke before the Bournemouth game about how players who weren't fully committed to Newcastle United would not play for him, and that came as a direct response to a line of questioning about Anthony Gordon's commitment.

Fast forward 24 hours, and Gordon's name was absent from the team sheet with a story releasing an hour or so before citing a hip injury he'd picked up in training. 

The fact that no injury had been mentioned the day before had a lot of people talking about the validity of the injury claims, but several outlets confirmed via their sources that the injury was legitimate. Gordon subsequently missed the game against Arsenal and only returned to training midweek this week.

Gordon will be assessed before a call is made

Eddie Howe was asked if Gordon would be available for Brighton after returning to training, but it seems like there's still an element of doubt there.

"He did a session on Wednesday. Part of the session on Wednesday. Great to see him back on the pitch, a player of great quality and one we have missed. We will make an assessment today about whether he is fit to play tomorrow."

Howe has backed Gordon recently, insisting that he is fully focused on getting back on the pitch and trying to help Newcastle recover their form before the end of the campaign.

Will Gordon start on Saturday?

It sounds as though we might have to make do with a cameo from Gordon on Saturday. If he only returned to training on Wednesday, didn't complete a full session and still needs an assessment, putting him in for 90 minutes is far too big a risk.

That being said, the injury didn't sound too serious either, so maybe it's one they can afford to take such a risk with.

Perhaps the best course of action is to start him against Brighton and see how he gets on throughout the game.