Anthony Gordon admits he wasn’t fit enough for Eddie Howe’s football when he arrived at Newcastle, but the £40m star is now “in really good shape” ahead of his first full season at St James’ Park.

Anthony Gordon thought he was enjoying a pretty decent home debut for Newcastle when Eddie Howe turned him on at half-time.

That was in April when the £40million winger hit the post and saw plenty of ball in the first 45 minutes against Southampton. However, with his side trailing 1-0, Howe replaced Gordon with Callum Wilson and Newcastle emerged 3-1 winners. Only on the last day of the season did he start again.

To those familiar with how Howe’s system worked, Gordon seemed far from having the intensity and understanding required.

Three months later, the 22-year-old looks razor sharp here in the United States, helped by a summer in which he was named Player of the Tournament in England’s win at the European Under-21 Championship.

But while speaking to reporters in Philadelphia, Gordon recalls that humiliating afternoon in St. James’ Park.

Anthony Gordon was substituted at half-time in his full home debut for Newcastle

The winger has now admitted he wasn’t fit enough for Eddie Howe’s style of football

“I tried not to be too emotional,” he says of his substitution. “I had a decent half but I knew I didn’t fit the style of the team which I didn’t quite understand, the way they played.”

“The manager said I played well but that he needed something different in the second half.” I kind of got it because I knew what we practice in training.

“But it was difficult, I will not lie. The manager’s tactical detail is so impressive. And there is so much of it compared to what I was used to before. He warned me it would take a while (to understand) and the other players warned me too.

“This pre-season can only help.” There are many meetings where things are visualized. I already have more confidence in the details and information that the manager gave me. “With every game I learn more about the style of play.”

Gordon arrived from Everton in January and was significantly worse than “Eddie Howe fit”, which he readily admits.

“Actually, I used the word ‘unfit’ when I first walked in,” he says. “I hadn’t trained for about a week. I just felt like I wasn’t up to speed at all in the previous games before the move. And I got injured shortly after moving to Newcastle. I never really got going. “The summer gave me a really good starting position.”

As for the holiday, Gordon could have taken a longer break but returned to training in Newcastle after just four days. “I missed my dogs too much, so I didn’t want to leave again!”

Dogs aside, Gordon knows there’s not a minute to lose when it comes to understanding the bite Howe demands.

Gordon was warned by Howe and his new teammates that he would need time to adjust

The 22-year-old feels he is in “really good shape” ahead of his first full season with the Magpies.