Gordon fires Newcastle to emphatic win over Benfica

The cast of leading goalscorers in the Champions League is stacked with the usual names even at this early stage.

- By SIMON BIRD AT ST JAMES' PARK

But Kylian Mbappe (five), Marcus Rashford, Harry Kane and Erling Haaland have all been joined on four goals by an unlikely marksman, England and Newcastle United's Anthony Gordon.

As Thomas Tuchel nails down his England starters for the World Cup there is positivity from the left-wing of St James' Park.

Gordon is bolstering his solid, goalscoring England form with productivity and headline grabbing among Europe's elite. Club boss Eddie Howe will now rightly demand Gordon transfers his big game shows into routine league games.

The 24-year old was the leading light in subduing Jose Mourinho's fading Benfica to the tune of a 3-0 triumph, darting around to find space, releasing pressure with his ball carrying and adding a killer touch in front of goal.

After international teammate - and left sided rival - Rashford netted twice for Barcelona in the early kickoff (a 6-1 win over Olympiacos) Gordon stepped up to deliver on Tyneside.

A 32nd-minute strike was his fourth in three European games. A good eight days for the Scouser after he rose up the pecking order for his country - netting the opener and clinching World Cup qualification - in a 5-0 win over Latvia last week. Benfica boss Jose Mourinho was quick to congratulate Anthony Gordon at full-time (PA)