Kevin Campbell: Anthony Gordon needs Everton loan exit after winger signings
We’re delighted to welcome former Everton striker Kevin Campbell as our exclusive columnist. Each week the former Toffees captain will be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Goodison Park…
Kevin Campbell has urged Everton attacking midfielder Anthony Gordon to leave Goodison Park on loan following the arrivals of Demarai Gray and Andros Townsend.
The former Leicester City winger returned to the Premier League after a six-month stint with Bayer Leverkusen, while Townsend reunited with manager Rafa Benitez after their time together at Newcastle United.
With Richarlison and Alex Iwobi also very much in the first-team picture, Gordon, 20, faces an uphill task if he decides to stay at Everton next season.
Campbell feels the Toffees academy graduate needs to leave Merseyside on loan for his development to continue.
Speaking exclusively to Goodison News, Campbell said: “I think loan, I think he needs to play. Again, these young players, they are so young, maybe it’s starting to put too much burden on them. Thinking you’re going to star for Everton and carry on. I think it’s a bit much to last.
“I think what he has to do, he’s got to go on loan and he’s got to play games, he’s got to get starting, get playing, that’s the key, because if you’re not playing football, what are you doing? You’re not progressing. He’s got to progress.”
Spot on
Gordon featured in five games across all competitions for Everton last season before joining Preston North End on loan for the latter half of the campaign where he played 11 Championship games.
The attacker had played in 15 games in 2019-20 for the Toffees, assisting once, and would be eager to prove himself to Benitez on the pre-season tour.
Gordon would have been watching with envy as Bukayo Saka, 19, and Phil Foden, 21, played a key role as England reached the final of the European Championship.
However, players develop differently, and his best chance of becoming a key player for us is by leaving for where he can play regularly.
He already has four players ahead of him, and his chances of forcing his way into Benitez’s plans are very slim.
We believe Gordon can go ahead and establish himself as a first-team star going forward given his huge potential, but that is not going to be easy, and he needs to do the hard yards to fulfil his dreams.
Impressing on loan would be a good way to start for the England youth international, and the Championship would be perfect for that.
In other Everton news, Benitez reveals 30y/o Toffees man wants to play for England again after major development.
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