Lee Ryder has tipped Elliot Anderson to get a start for Newcastle in the coming weeks, but only if the Magpies secure the points they need to stay up.
Newcastle, who face Spurs on Sunday, are currently a mere two points above the bottom three.
The Magpies need four more wins to reach the 40-point mark, though a lower tally could theoretically be enough to secure safety.
‘At the minute, it’s going to be hard for Elliott Anderson’
18-year-old Anderson would have seen plenty of involvement over the course of the run-in if Newcastle had met expectations, Ryder says.
The Newcastle journalist was speaking to the Everything is Black and White podcast on Friday.
“I honestly think if Newcastle were in the position that they should be in at the minute – sitting 13th, 14th and well clear of the relegation zone – I think these last eight games would be a real opportunity to look at Elliot Anderson,” Ryder said.
“At the minute, it’s going to be hard for him until they get past whatever the points mark needs to be this year.
“Having said that, if all goes well and they do get those two or three wins, then I do think we will see him get a start before the end of the season.”
Recapping Elliot Anderson’s 20/21 season so far
During the international break, Anderson made his England Under-19 debut in a friendly against Arsenal’s Under-23s.
He’s played eight Premier League 2 matches this season, scoring five goals.
Anderson played 39 minutes off the bench for the senior team in January as Arsenal knocked Newcastle out of the FA Cup after extra time.
He’s been selected amongst the substitutes for seven Premier League fixtures but they’ve only yielded three minutes of gametime.
Bruce is a man down in midfield heading into the run-in after it was confirmed that Isaac Hayden would miss the remainder of the season with a knee injury.