Anthony Gordon failed to shine as he was handed a start by Eddie Howe following his frustrated reaction to being substituted during Newcastle United's 2-1 win over Brentford.
The 22-year-old replaced Sean Longstaff in the starting XI as Joelinton dropped back into the heart of midfield.
Both Rio Ferdinand and Peter Crouch insisted pre-match that Gordon must perform after last weekend's incident, but Newcastle ultimately fell to a 3-0 defeat at Aston Villa.
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Ollie Watkins bagged a brace with a pair of second half goals to extend his season total to 14 league goals, and Jacob Ramsey scored the opener after 11 minutes.
"He needs to perform today," Ferdinand told BT Sport prior to kick-off. "You do something like that, whether it’s deemed right or wrong inside and outside of the club, he needs to go and perform."
"There’s pressure on him with the price tag as well so I hope he does, he’s a good, young player with good potential. The statement of this club that Eddie Howe has built is togetherness, and that sits outside that, he needs to bring that back in now and show that he’s a part of this squad and a part of this team. Good, young player."
Crouch also added: "I think it’s a big shout that he starts today, I thought he might have been banished to the [under] 21’s.
"You react like that to a manager who has done brilliant things at the football club, it’s a difficult one. I think he’d have been the first one in Monday morning knocking on the manager’s door to apologise because he knows he’s signed for a new club and he can’t react like that.
"I think what Eddie Howe has done is manage him really well, he’s given him an opportunity today as if to say go and show me you’re ready for this now."
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