Gordon has missed Newcastle’s last four games, including two due to a hip injury, as speculation mounts that the Bundesliga champions are in advanced negotiations to sign him at the end of the season.
Asked on Friday if he had left out Gordon because he was planning for the future, Howe said: “When you get to this stage of the season, part of what we will be doing we’ll be looking to next year, naturally, so yes.
“Anthony’s just come back from injury. I think the team has played well in his absence and with a partial view to the future, yes.”
Howe said talks over Gordon’s potential departure could be underway, but he insisted he was not part of the negotiations.
“No, nothing, no updates from me. These are discussions that potentially might be happening, but not with me,” he said.
Howe has to decide whether to involve Gordon in the Premier League clash with relegation-threatened West Ham at St James’ Park on Sunday.
Brazil international Joelinton, who lined up in Gordon’s left-sided attacking berth at Nottingham Forest last weekend, is nursing a thigh problem.
“If it’s the right thing for the team – and I put the team and the club above any individual – then I would play him, of course,” Howe said on the possibility of Gordon featuring this weekend.
Author
World Cup News
-
FIFA World Cup
/ 18 hours agoCourt rules England World Cup winner died from brain injury linked to heading
Stiles, a former Manchester United midfielder, died almost six years ago aged 78 with...
By AFP -
FIFA World Cup
/ 5 days agoCourtois ‘proud’ as sun sets on Belgium’s ‘Golden Generation’
Thibaut Courtois said he was proud of Belgium's fabled "Golden Generation" on Friday as...
By AFP -
FIFA World Cup
/ 5 days agoSpain vs France a World Cup ‘final before the final’: De la Fuente
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said on Friday that the World Cup semi-final...
By AFP -
FIFA World Cup
/ 6 days agoMbappe warns ‘a long way to go’ for France at World Cup after reaching semis
France captain Kylian Mbappe insisted Thursday his team were not getting carried away about...
By AFP