Anthony Gordon has admitted that he was "hurt" by the lack of credit that Everton showed him after he joined Newcastle United in January.
Gordon joined Everton aged 11 and worked his way through the youth ranks, before going on to register seven goals and eight assists in 78 first-team appearances.
After submitting a formal transfer request, Gordon left his boyhood club in January to complete a £45m move to Newcastle.
Despite leaving the Toffees, Gordon has stated that he will always remain a supporter of the Merseyside club.
The 22-year-old told Sky Sports News: "My whole life has been at Everton. It was a massive place in my heart and in my life, which I will never forget.
"From afar I will always be rooting for them, I will always be wishing them the best."
Towards the end of his Everton career, a group of angry supporters chased after Gordon's car and shouted obscenities at the striker following a 2-1 defeat to Southampton in January.
When questioned about the incident, Gordon said: "I think it is really difficult. Once things like that happen, it is hard to recover from. Especially because I am from there and grew up on them streets."
Upon completing his move to Newcastle, Gordon released a heartfelt message on Twitter where he told Everton supporters that he had lived out his "childhood dreams".
In contrast, Everton released a 59-word statement to confirm his departure without including any word of thanks.
Commenting on Everton's statement, Gordon revealed: "It did hurt me a little bit, I'm not going to lie to you.
"I thought 'I'm a 22-year-old lad, I'm not going to handle every situation in life perfectly', but I think the effort I gave them last year, I was a massive part in keeping the club up.
"I won the players' player and manager's player of the year [awards], so for them to not really show me any credit or thank me hurt me a little bit, yes."
Since leaving Everton, Gordon has made four appearances for Newcastle, and he is yet to open his goalscoring account for his new club.
After starting last Saturday's 2-0 defeat to Manchester City, Gordon will hope to retain his place in the side for Sunday's home meeting with Wolverhampton Wanderers. body check tags ::
