EDDIE Howe hopes Anthony Gordon's Goodison Park experience will help him deal with the hostile reception he's likely to get on his Everton return, with the Newcastle boss planning private talks with the midfielder ahead of the game.

Gordon swapped Merseyside for Newcastle in January in a £40m deal that angered Everton fans, with the 22-year-old having stayed away from training in a bid to force the move.

Gordon later told of his hurt that his boyhood club hadn't thanked him for his service in the statement announcing his exit.

In his first return to Goodison Park since his controversial exit, Gordon is in line to be met by a hostile reception, which Howe will be mindful of when picking his team and deciding whether to start the midfielder, who was on the bench for Sunday's hammering of Tottenham.

"It’s me trying to pick the best team to win the game, whether than includes Anthony or not," said Howe.

"It’s not about Anthony having to prove anything to Everton - that would be the wrong way of looking at it. I have to pick a team that I think has the best tools to hurt them.

"I will always take the emotion out of the decision, you can never pick a team based on one player.

"You don't want to have or do anything that impacts the team, which is the most important thing. This is something surrounding the game but is not influencing the game in terms of tactical preparation.

"It's something we need to be mindful of, but I don't necessarily know what I can do to change it."

Regardless of whether Gordon starts or comes off the bench, Howe believes his January signing can use his Goodison Park experience to his advantage.

He said: "The beauty is that he has seen the Everton crowd many times. He will have no surprises about what to expect. He would have seen other players go back and receive mixed receptions.

"Hopefully, he has seen enough to be robust and deal with what happens. It’s about staying very present and not thinking too much, just play the game – which is easier said than done in that environment, where he will probably feel that all eyes are focused on him.

“I don't want it to become a big talking point in the game. For me, it's not important. It's important for Anthony and it's important that he comes through the game in a good way, but what's important is that the team functions and we show our best selves."

READ MORE:

Gordon has shown flashes of what he's capable of since joining Newcastle but Howe believes there's a lot more to come.

"I don't think we have seen the best of Anthony Gordon," he says.

"We have seen glimpses of potential, glimpses of what he can do. Go back to the Manchester City game there were moments there. There was a moment on Sunday when he nearly scored and showed his pace on transition.

"He has got so many qualities. Putting it all together for 90 minutes we have not seen that yet.

"January transfers are incredibly difficult - an individual joining a new team, totally new way of playing. For a young player to adjust to that isn’t easy. I am really pleased with him and I know he will be a high quality player for us in the future and I know he is going to be the right signing for us because of the way he has reacted to the move."