Anthony Gordon signing a new contract at Newcastle United will allow him to put any transfer speculation behind him and concentrate on football, manager Eddie Howe said.
Gordon was linked with a move to Liverpool in the summer while away on England duty at the Euros but is now fit and firing for Newcastle, who face Chelsea on Sunday.
Howe said: “(The new contract) cuts out a lot of needless noise around his future. I think now that he can really focus on this season and performing at his very best level.
“He’s such a talent. We need him absolutely firing and I think this will help him, no doubt, get back to his very best.
“It was a difficult summer for him, there’s no doubt about that. I think it was a difficult summer for a lot of the players.
“Through no fault of their own, they’re reading headlines on their futures, which can be destabilising, which can lead to a lot of needless energy wasted and a lot of distraction.”
Gordon scored 12 goals from the left wing for the Magpies last season but has managed only one goal from open play so far this term.
Howe said forward Callum Wilson is no longer injured but will not be ready for the next three games due to “tightness in his body”.
However, Alexander Isak was fit t0 return and play the full 90 minutes durig last week’s defeat to Brighton.
