Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe has admitted he is already planning for next season after leaving Anthony Gordon on the bench for a second successive game.
Gordon was again an unused substitute during Newcastle’s 1-1 Premier League draw with Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Sunday, despite having recovered from the hip flexor issue that sidelined him against Arsenal and AFC Bournemouth last month.
The England winger has now watched from the bench in consecutive matches against Brighton and Hove Albion and Forest, with Howe preferring a more defensive setup featuring Joelinton in a wider role.
“It was tactical,” Howe told BBC Radio Newcastle. “The team has performed well in Anthony’s absence. We have gone with a bit more solidity because we weren’t happy with how we were defending. Since January, really, we have been disappointed.
“Ant has come back to fitness. He’s training well but, also, I’m looking at the future as well.”
Howe’s comments came after reports that Bayern Munich had opened talks over a possible move for Gordon in the off-season, and the Newcastle manager gave further indications that his recent team selections are already being shaped by next season’s plans.
Veteran full-back Kieran Trippier, who is set to leave the club at the end of the campaign, was also left out of the starting line-up despite being Newcastle’s only fit natural right-back. Instead, left-back Lewis Hall was deployed on the opposite flank.
Howe dismissed suggestions that Trippier’s omission was linked to contractual appearance bonuses.
“Absolutely not. I make football decisions,” he said.
The Newcastle boss added: “We have got one eye on the future. That’s been clear with some of the decisions I’ve made with the team because we want to see some players and how they are going to grow into the team.
“Obviously Kieran’s future has been revealed, so I’m focusing on the players that will be here next season.”
Newcastle appeared on course for victory after Harvey Barnes opened the scoring, but former Magpies midfielder Elliot Anderson equalised for Forest after the break.
Howe felt his side should have taken more from the game.
“We dominated for large periods and should’ve scored more than one,” he said. “Then we just didn’t defend the goal well enough at all.”
Former Tottenham midfielder Jamie O’Hara believes Gordon’s continued absence points towards a summer exit.
“It tells me he’s leaving if Howe isn’t playing him,” O’Hara told Sky Sports News. “If Howe isn’t playing him at this stage of the season, it suggests he’s going to get rid of him.”
