Anthony Gordon has set his sights on continuing to improve after completing 90 minutes against Tottenham Hotspur this weekend.
Anthony Gordon said: “It’s probably the first time I’ve felt fit enough to go for 90 minutes [in the Premier League] for a good few years now. It was a very big mark for me to overcome, and I felt really good doing it. It’s a building block. It’s just working hard every day in training. It sounds a bit clichéd, but it’s true. If you ask the players and the staff I’m sure they’d agree with me. I’ve been working really hard, running around in training – even when I don’t need to, just to build my stamina. And it’s paying off. It’s hard because, as the manager says, I’m really explosive off the mark and I’m a quick player. Usually you don’t get quick players who have a lot of stamina. It’s just finding the right balance.”
Gordon believes he has already hugely improved over the course of the last few months, with the help of Benitez certainly pushing him on. And he doesn’t want to stop here, highlighting his need to continue this path of progression over the rest of the season.
Anthony Gordon added: “I’m definitely improving. He’s [Benitez] an honest guy, so any improvements that need to be made he’s letting me know and I’m trying my best. We have got a really good relationship and I’m just building on it. Everything about my game has improved since last year. I think that comes with maturing, more experience. Everything is just coming together nicely. I want to play as much as possible. It’s not just about getting 90 minutes here, I’m going away with England now and want to play there. Then I want to come back and play. I need to come back and keep improving.”
Gordon was recently handed his first ever England under-21 call-up for the upcoming international break. And the winger has discussed the phone call he received from boss Lee Carsley, and his immediate ambition now he has made the step up for the Three Lions.
Anthony Gordon said: “I set myself a goal this year to get the call-up. I found out two days before they announced it and the manager, Lee Carsley, called me the night before and said, ‘Congratulations, it’s well deserved I want to win both games and to play as much as possible. If I can start a game for England Under-21s, that would be a big achievement for me.”
