Demarai Gray messages Anthony Gordon as ex-Everton man makes Newcastle United debut
Everton forward Demarai Gray sent a four-word message to Anthony Gordon on Instagram following the departed Goodison Park ace made his debut for new club Newcastle United on Saturday.
The 21-year-old completed a £45million move to the Magpies a day before the January transfer deadline-day [Sky Sports, 30 January], leaving the Toffees and new manager Sean Dyche well short in attack.
The Toffees simply failed to acquire any of their attacking targets during the window, which leaves Dyche with Dwight McNeil, Alex Iwobi and Gray as his regular first-team attacking stars to aid Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Neal Maupay up front.
With Gordon making his Magpies debut in the 1-1 draw against West Ham United on Saturday evening, the former Toffees youngster posted on Instagram, celebrating his debut, to which Gray responded with a four-word message.
He said [4 February]: “Love to see it.”
Time to step up
Gordon’s Goodison Park departure was a huge blow for the Toffees, and it was made all the more worse considering the club’s board failed to replace him having received a great £45m fee.
That will Dyche will heavily rely upon the likes of his former student at Burnley McNeil, Iwobi and Gray to find the consistency in their game that has been lacking for much of the campaign.
The former two impressed in the deserved 1-0 win over Arsenal on Saturday, but Gray was left to watch on from the bench which will not have come as any source of encouragement regarding his starting opportunities.
Gray certainly possesses the quality, scoring some stunning goals at times, but he doesn’t do it consistently which has been his problem for much of his career.
However, with Dyche short of attacking options, the player’s chances will come eventually and it is certainly time he steps up to fill the gaping hole left by Anthony Gordon.