Journalist Jacob Whitehead has claimed that Miguel Almiron could be replaced by Anthony Gordon in the Newcastle United starting lineup given his current poor form.

The Lowdown: Competition for places

While eyebrows may have been raised when Newcastle splurged £40m on Gordon last month - with the winger having more bookings than goals to his name this season - he certainly made an impact on his debut.

The winger managed to thread a fantastic ball through to Callum Wilson - which could have been his first assist of the season - only for the England international to fail to get his shot off in time, but it was indeed a sign of what may be to come from the 'very dynamic' youngster.

Eddie Howe will have surely been impressed by Gordon's performance, as in 22 minutes, he managed one shot, 14 touches and one progressive pass (as per FBref) that certainly helped the Magpies get up the pitch.

The Latest: Gordon's versatility could be valuable

Gordon replaced Allan Saint-Maximin on Saturday, but Whitehead insisted on Pod on the Tyne that the winger could be an Almiron alternative given the Paraguayan's current form in the final third, which has seen him record zero goals and assists since Boxing Day.

He said: "I think the thing which also helps him is his versatility - he's not only on the left; he can play on the right as well. Whereas, someone like Saint-Maximin, you kind of only really envisage coming in on the left.

"Almiron's had a long run of games; looked a little bit off it at the weekend. And so the fact that you could have Gordon potentially replacing either of them and it seen as a rotation rather than a statement of a player being dropped works in his favour."

The Verdict: Howe now has strength in depth

Prior to Gordon's arrival last month, it was very much a case of Almiron starting on the right and Joelinton being deployed in his newfound left-wing role to incorporate the other central midfielders.

However, with Gordon having 66 games' worth of Premier League experience under his belt already, it offers Howe another solid option, as the winger won't need time to get used to the league, unlike players such as Sven Botman and Bruno Guimaraes, who didn't start immediately following their moves to Tyneside.

It would be a very bold move for Howe to drop the club's top scorer in Almrion given what he's brought to the team this season amid his new lease of life, but with the Carabao Cup final not too far away, Howe will want to ensure that his main players stay fit, and the fact that Gordon will be cup-tied for the final could benefit him in the league games.