Anthony Gordon said he can play in the No. 9 role for Barcelona after he produced two assists on his debut to help Barça open their title defence with an emphatic 5-0 win over Elche.
Gordon -- who signed a five-year deal for €70 million ($81.7m) -- assisted Raphinha and Fermín López in a four-minute burst after coming on in the 65th minute of their LaLiga opener.
Raphinha led the line and scored twice, as did López, with debutant Karim Adeyemi also getting on the scoresheet before Gordon replaced Lamine Yamal on the flank.
The 25-year-old wasted no time in making an impact, assisting Raphinha two minutes into his debut before squaring the ball to López for an easy finish in a rapid counterattack.
Barcelona bolstered their attack by signing Gordon, Adeyemi and Jesse Bisiwu in the summer transfer window, but have been actively looking to address the gap left by Robert Lewanowski and Ferran Torres.
Julián Álvarez has been a top target, although ESPN reported a deal is looking difficult with Atlético Madrid unwilling to transfer the Argentine, with Arsenal also interested in making a move.
Asked whether he could fill the No. 9 position, Gordon said: "Yeah of course, I played there last year a lot. I played really well I thought.
"I have got different strengths to a typical No. 9. I can come and go and link play. I can do it. I like to play there."
Naturally a left-winger, Gordon's versatility has allowed him to play through the middle as was often the case under former Newcastle boss Eddie Howe last season.
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For his second assist, the England international was in good position to shoot and score but instead opted to set up López to his right, as the pair combined in a two vs. one against the keeper.
"I think it's the right decision," Gordon said. "If Fermín [López] had the ball and I was in his position I would want him to pass, I think it's the correct football decision.
"We're a team, it's not about me scoring."
