'He missed': Alan Shearer thinks £40m Newcastle player is really struggling for confidence right now

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After somehow failing to score against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday, Newcastle United dropped to eighth in the Premier League table.

Eddie Howe's Newcastle side played well for much of the game against Brighton, they were dominating before Danny Welbeck put the away side ahead.

However, the likes of Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon simply couldn't finish their chances, meaning Brighton came away with a 1-0 and a clean sheet – a result that didn't reflect the game.

After eight games played in the league, it still doesn't feel as if Newcastle have got going in the slightest, their performances have lacked rhythm and creativity at times.

But it was simply a case of not finishing their chances against Brighton – something which will endlessly frustrate Howe.

Anthony Gordon fails to take his chance as Newcastle lose to Brighton

That being said, when reflecting on the defeat on 'The Rest Is Football' podcast, Alan Shearer made a point about Gordon in particular.

Shearer thought Newcastle's attack as a whole had been 'really poor' so far this season, and noticed that Gordon's confidence seemed to have been knocked. 

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The forward, who cost Newcastle £40m, has scored two goals in 10 appearances this season, numbers he'll hope to improve, especially after his penalty miss against Everton.

Shearer said: "Newcastle have been really poor in forward positions. One of the reasons why they wanted to bring in another forward in, right-sided forward, was because of that.

"But Wilson hasn't played, Isak has been injured, Gordon has had to play centre-forward.

"Missed the penalty at Everton, probably affected his confidence because he missed another couple of big chances yesterday."

Alexander Isak also deserves his fair share of the blame

As well as Gordon's golden opportunity to level the game after Fabian Schar's brilliant ball over the top late in the second half, Isak also had a gilt-edge chance in the first.

The Sweden international seemed to beat the offside trap to get in behind, one versus one with Bart Verbruggen.

For all of St James' Park it seemed as if Isak would score, either rounding the goalkeeper or calmly slotting it past him.

However, in a way you wouldn't have seen last season, Isak snatched at his chance – he also appears to be lacking in confidence.

It's an issue for Newcastle, and Howe will want to see a reaction in some tricky Premier League matches to come.