Barcelona summer signing enjoying the best start to a season of his career

Anthony Gordon may not have scored his first goal for Barcelona yet, but his latest international performances suggest it could only be a matter of time.

The English winger has returned from international duty in outstanding form, scoring in three consecutive matches for England and extending his run to four straight internationals with a goal when his World Cup semi-final strike against Argentina is included.

That is a major reason for optimism at Barcelona. Gordon has already shown he can make an impact without finding the net himself, registering four assists since joining the Blaugrana, while his numbers across club and international football point towards the most productive start of his career.

Anthony Gordon stats give Barcelona real hope

Gordon has recorded three goals and five assists across his first ten matches with club and country this season, giving him eight goal contributions already.

He has never produced those numbers so early in a campaign. In fact, his closest previous start came in 2023/24, when he managed two goals and two assists in his opening ten games.

For England during the recent break, the former Newcastle United winger scored against Spain, the Czech Republic and Croatia, while being rested for England’s most recent match against the Czech Republic. 

That decision could work in Flick’s favour, with Gordon returning to Barcelona with fresh legs ahead of major fixture congestion.

Barcelona trust Gordon despite competition for minutes

Gordon has also settled into an interesting battle for playing time at Barcelona.

With Raphinha operating as the central forward, Gordon and Karim Adeyemi have largely shared the role on the wing. 

Adeyemi has the advantage when it comes to goals, but Gordon offers Flick something different through his pressing intensity and ability to combine with teammates.

That link-up play has helped him establish himself as a trusted option despite his lack of goals for the club.

Barcelona now face an extremely demanding stretch, with the schedule including an El Clasico, as well as the Champions League meeting with Paris Saint-Germain.

So, what happens now?

The obvious next step is for Gordon to transfer his England scoring form to Barcelona.

His four assists already demonstrate that he is contributing, while his pressing and movement have made him useful to Flick even without goals.

But the winger is now showing that he can be decisive in front of goal too and if that confidence carries over from England, Barcelona could soon see the complete version of the player they signed.