Eddie Howe must stick by ‘woeful’ Newcastle star vs Burnley, it could save him his job

Eddie Howe is under serious pressure at Newcastle United at the moment.

The Magpies are not having a good campaign, and a 1-0 defeat to Man United on Boxing Day sent them down to 14^th in the table.

As it stands, qualification for the Champions League next season appears slim, which would be a big blow for the Northern club.

Therefore, calls for Howe to be sacked by Newcastle have been getting louder week by week as fans look to get their season back on track.

With Burnley up next, a win is undoubtedly needed against the struggling side, and the manager should look to keep Anthony Gordon in the lineup.

Anthony Gordon has a great record against Burnley

Against Man United, Gordon was poor and was described as “woeful” by fans despite Howe’s belief that he played well.

Recently, these displays have not been uncommon, with the winger only providing three goal contributions in the Premier League all season.

As a result, calls for Gordon to be dropped from the lineup have grown louder, and considering Howe’s current position, he may well be forced into making changes.

However, against Burnley, he has to ensure that Gordon remains in the lineup.

• Gordon has struggled in the Premier League this season
• This is despite him having a wonderful Champions League campaign to date
• As a result, many fans have begun to turn on Gordon after his recent performance against Man United

The 24-year-old’s record against the Clarets is impressive, picking up a goal contribution in his last three games against them.

Therefore, given Burnley’s current form, there is every chance this continues on Tuesday.

If so, it could easily save Howe’s job, with a draw or defeat likely to force the owners to make a decision.

Newcastle’s record against Burnley explained 

Alongside Gordon, Newcastle also have a fantastic record against Burnley.

The last five meetings have seen five Magpies wins, and you’d have to go back to 2019 to find the last time Newcastle lost to the Clarets in the Premier League.

Earlier this season, Newcastle won 2-1 in what was a comfortable game at St. James’ Park.

However, with Burnley now regaining some form, having drawn their last two games, it will no doubt be a tricky game at Turf Moor.