Gordon hits back at 'complete nonsense' from Rooney and Shearer

However, he found himself in the headlines for an altogether different reason before the match. Gordon was unable to start the first leg of Newcastle 's Champions League last-16 tie against Barcelona on Tuesday because of illness. It led to criticism from a host of leading pundits.

Roy Keane questioned how Gordon was able to come on midway through the second half that night, yet was not fit enough to line up from the off. Alan Shearer said it would take "something extraordinary to keep myself out of this game". Wayne Rooney, who was on punditry duty pitchside, asked why Gordon "wouldn't shake our hands" beforehand only to then "sit in a dressing room with his team-mates".

Howe defends Gordon after Shearer and Keane criticism What few people knew at the time was that Gordon had been in bed ill for three days. He was unable to even take part in a walkthrough session on the morning of the Barca match. As much as Gordon nonetheless felt "ready to start" that evening, it was head coach Eddie Howe who made the final decision to bench him after speaking to the club's medical team.

"When I got to the stadium the manager told me I wasn't playing, which I didn't like very much, but that's his decision and the team played well," he said. "Saying I didn't want to play in the biggest game of my career is absolute nonsense. "I think Rooney said I went past and didn't shake their hands and went into the changing room.