Eddie Howe blames rule change as ‘outstanding’ Newcastle United player ruled out v West Ham United
Eddie Howe believes a slight change to the rules is to blame for Newcastle United being without Anthony Gordon against West Ham.
Gordon will sit out the game at London Stadium on Sunday [8 October] after picking up five yellow cards in seven Premier League outings this term.
Being without the in-form attacker in East London is a blow for Howe, but the Newcastle boss feels it is something teams will have to get used to.
“[Gordon] will be disappointed because he doesn’t want to miss any games,” Howe told The Gazette [7 October].
“I think he’s been outstanding at the start of this year and I thought he was outstanding again on Wednesday [against Paris Saint-Germain].
“I think the booking side of things has changed this year with the rules. There’s very little leeway on anything and there’s a yellow card out.
“Whether that’s a little pause in attack or whatever it is with the new regulations that have come in so I think suspension will then come to the fore more not just for Anthony and us but for other clubs as well.”
Cards galore
Whether it is down to referees becoming less lenient or otherwise, picking up five yellow cards in seven matches is quite the achievement.
In fact, when you factor in Champions League games, it is six yellow cards in nine games for the Magpies ace this campaign.
From West Ham’s perspective, this can only be considered a positive as Gordon has been one of Newcastle’s best performers this season.
The 22-year-old has two goals and two assists to his name in the Premier League, but Howe will need to find a replacement out on the left.
Jacob Murphy looks like the best option in that position, with Miguel Almiron and either Alexander Isak or Callum Wilson through the middle.
Whoever is fielded out there, Vladimir Coufal is well equipped to deal with the danger while also getting forward when the opportunity presents itself.
And if you were wondering, Edson Alvarez is the only West Ham player close to an automatic ban, having picked up four yellow cards to date.
In other West Ham news, a talkSPORT host ridiculed a caller’s claim regarding Declan Rice’s time with the Hammers.