'So consistent': Micah Richards admits he has been proved wrong by 'brilliant' Newcastle man this season

It hasn't been the most memorable of seasons for Newcastle United as the campaign comes to a close.

Despite returning to the Champions League for the first time in 20 years, the season has been blighted by bad news in the form of a huge suspension for our big summer signing and a constant barrage of injuries.

Yet despite all that, Newcastle could still come out of this season with a couple of positives to look back on. There have been some amazing results, among them is the 8-0 win over Sheffield United and the 4-1 humping of Paris Saint-Germain but perhaps the biggest glimmering light from our season has been the development and consistent brilliance of Anthony Gordon.

The £45million January signing last season didn't have much of an impact in his first six months at the club which did little to convince people that Newcastle had made a shrewd move.

Alan Shearer called Anthony Gordon 'brilliant'

This season, however, Gordon has come back better, faster, stronger after promising to do so at the end of last season. Gordon helped the England U21s to lift the European Championship title as well as picking up the Player of the Tournament accolade, and he's not looked back since.

Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Micah Richards took the time to heap praise on Gordon after asking Alan Shearer his thoughts on the England man. Asking, “How good is Gordon, though, Alan? Seriously.” with the Newcastle legend replying, “Yeah, brilliant".

Richards went on to half admit that he had his doubts but now he sees Gordon for the talent he truly is.

“Remember when he was linked to Chelsea before he went to Newcastle and everyone was laughing at him. And now, he is so consistent it’s ridiculous. Whether he is getting assists from crosses, whether he is taking on his man, whether he is defending for the team, and I know you put him in your England team moving forward for the Euros, but honestly, I wouldn’t disagree with you now. He can do absolutely everything. The improvement since the 21s when they won it, was it last summer, has just been enormous. What a player he has turned out to be!”

Gordon can still be classed as underrated

We rarely need an excuse to lavish Anthony Gordon with praise after his outstanding season, but it's great to see it coming from elsewhere too, especially as he's been overlooked by so many this season.

Premier League Productions completely ignored Gordon when doing their Rising Stars features on YouTube and he's somehow not made it into the EAFC Premier League Team of the Season. Absolutely laughable stuff.

We know what a player we have on our hands, and if he goes to the Euros with England this summer and is actually used by Gareth Southgate, soon everyone else will see it too.