Chris Waugh has been speaking on Pod on the Tyne about what Newcastle United players think about Elliot Anderson.
At the end of last season and heading into this summer’s pre-season, it appeared pretty clear that Anderson would be heading out on loan after impressing during his stint in League Two last term.
However, with the Magpies struggling to land attacking targets and Anderson being taken on the clubs’ tour of Austria, that decision is a lot less straightforward now, especially after the player himself spoke about his desire to stay in and around the first team this season and make his mark.
Waugh believes that a lot of the players at Newcastle, including Allan Saint-Maximin, are impressed by what Anderson brings to the team.
(46:00) “He has full confidence in his own ability and the other players in the squad some other first teamers, including Allan Saint-Maximin, really do like him and think that he really brings something in and around the team.
Should Anderson be loaned out?
Yes!
No!
“So he did do very, very well out at Bristol Rovers, Newcastle would have ideally liked him to have been a little bit higher in the football pyramid than League Two.
“It is a huge step to go from League Two to Premier League, but Howe is having a real look at him and until more attacking players arrive, then there is every possibility that if he impresses, then he could stick around.”
TIF Thoughts on Anderson’s future…
It’s obvious that Anderson has natural ability and the willingness to succeed as he thrived in a tough League Two, which was his first ever loan away from Newcastle, where he registered 13 goal involvements from January onwards, but also the fact he backs himself to make a mark in the first team despite being just 19.
However, what’s most important right now is that Anderson’s growth and development aren’t stagnated by sitting on the bench for an entire season, so Dan Ashworth will have to work closely with Eddie Howe and ensure that whatever step is taken in Anderson’s development is the correct one for both him and the club.