The Athletic’s Chris Waugh has been blown away on Twitter by footage of Elliot Anderson while out on loan from Newcastle United, albeit in a short cameo appearance.
Anderson is very highly regarded by Newcastle, which is why it was so important he was allowed to go out and get his first taste of actual football having only been handed substitute appearances for the Magpies thus far.
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On Deadline Day, the Magpies sanctioned the loan deal of Anderson to Bristol Rovers, which saw the youngster link up with former Newcastle United midfielder Joey Barton, who is the manager there.
Despite not starting their latest match and having just two training sessions with the club under his belt, Anderson came on as a substitute and started off an attacking move midway through his own half, only to end up being the furthest man forward and getting a shot away on goal a few moments later.
This glimpse of what could be to come from Anderson left Waugh purring on Twitter, saying: ‘Elliot Anderson with what was seemingly a very well-received cameo for Bristol Rovers on his debut. A little glimpse here as to why he is rated so highly at #NUFC – & really needed game-time to help his development.’
TIF Thoughts on Elliot Anderson…
This is a very good chance for Anderson to showcase his talent, which according to The Athletic, has been earmarked by people within the club since a very young age, and many believed he would be a genuine first-team option in the future.
Given Newcastle’s woes at retaining the ball in midfield this season, he could go on to save the club a fortune in the future if he turns out to be good enough.
For so long now, Newcastle fans have been starved of academy graduates that have been able to become mainstays in their side, with the most recent ones being Paul Dummett, who’s hardly played over the last two years, and Sean Longstaff, who is very much a rotation midfielder and not able to nail down a regular starting position.
Therefore, if Anderson can prove he’s a cut above the rest in League Two, a step into the first team may not seem as much of a risk as it once did – no matter what league Newcastle are in next season – and prove why the game time Waugh highlighted could be such an important move in his career.
In other news: ‘Wonder if Hatem will put a good word in’ – Journalist drops teasing NUFC comment after footage