Eddie Howe names the Newcastle United player who’s had his ‘best pre-season’

Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe has hailed Elliot Anderson’s performances in pre-season — as he pushes to start the Premier League opener at home to Aston Villa.

Anderson, dubbed the ‘Geordie Maradona’, ended the summer as the Magpies’ top goalscorer after netting a brace against Brighton & Hove Albion at the US Summer Series, as well as scoring versus Villa and Gateshead.

The 20-year-old’s impact from his new, slightly-adjusted No.8 position, has given Howe real food for thought ahead of Saturday (kick-off 5:30pm) with Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton, Sean Longstaff and £52million summer signing Sandro Tonali also vying for a spot in the midfield three.

“I think he’s possibly had the best pre-season I’ve seen him have, although that’s only limited in my eyes because I think last year he picked up a couple of niggles during that time,” Howe said on Anderson.

“He’s pushing [to start]. I want every player in the squad to believe they play and believe they have the right to play and deliver when the pressure’s on.

“He’s done that so far but he’s got huge competition in the area he’s playing in, whether that’s in midfield or wide. We’ve got some top players in there so I’ve got some tough calls to make.”

After Anderson saw his first Premier League goal ruled out at Nottingham Forest in March, Howe told NewcastleWorld he viewed the player’s best position as a left forward.

Anderson too faces strong competition in that area in the form of recent signings Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes, and Joelinton, who played most of last season there.

The Scotland under-21s international made 27 appearances in all competitions last term, including six starts, after returnig from a hugely loan spell at Joey Barton’s Bristol Rovers.