Frank Lampard refused to shed any light on why Anthony Gordon failed to feature for Everton against West Ham United on Saturday.
The Blues were beaten 2-0 at the London Stadium, but Gordon failed to make it off the bench against David Moyes’ side. Jarrod Bowen scored twice for the hosts.
Both of Bowen’s goals came in the first-half and that prompted Lampard to freshen things up at the break. Seamus Coleman and Vitalii Mykolenko made way for Tom Davies and Dwight McNeil.
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However, despite Everton chasing the game, those were the only two changes made by Lampard. Blues youngster Gordon has started just one game for his side since the Premier League returned from its break for the World Cup on Boxing Day.
Earlier this week, Gordon was linked with a move to Newcastle United, with the 21-year-old, it is claimed, being on a list of targets for Eddie Howe’s side this month. The speculation comes after Gordon was the subject of a failed £40million bid from Chelsea back in August.
But when asked after the game if the rumours linking Gordon with a move away were behind his decision to not bring him on, Lampard refused to be drawn.
"No. Sorry, no,” he replied, and before he had even answered the question the Everton boss was up out of his seat and heading for the door.
As of Sunday night, Lampard was still in charge of Everton, despite the club’s board all being present for Saturday’s defeat. It was the first time Farhad Moshiri, the club’s majority shareholder, had watched his side in person since October 2021.
"Keep working, the only way I know. Working at the training ground, going again,” Lampard said when asked after the game about how he planned to turn this around.
“We have to be better as a team as if you score it can give you give a good feeling, if you don't the feeling is there for the other team and that happened with West Ham."
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