Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has praised winger Anthony Gordon.
After Gordon's first St James' Park start ended with him coming off at half time, manager Howe moved to assure the January transfer arrival.
With his team losing to Southampton, Howe made a change that saw Gordon come off and Callum Wilson come on, leading to Newcastle winning the game.
His reaction to being taken off was very good - if there can be a very good reaction to it," Howe told reporters.
Asked how this may impact Gordon's confidence, Howe added: "It's difficult for me to comment on Anthony's behalf. Did that miss affect him mentally? Possibly.
It shouldn't have though in my opinion."
"The chance is of his own creation. His pace, his speed, the timing of his run. Some brilliant characteristics that will serve us really well in the future. I thought he was at the heart of all our good bits of play. It may sound like a contradiction but I thought he played really well but someone had to be sacrificed (for Callum Wilson)."