'Hugely frustrating' - Newcastle United fitness claim after 'creative' star ruled out for four months

Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has suggested Elliot Anderson will have a big role to play between now and the end of the campaign having been a "huge miss" during his lengthy time on the sidelines.

The Whitley Bay-born midfielder made his comeback against Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday night. He was introduced at the end of extra-time before stepping up take a penalty in the Magpies' FA Cup fifth round shootout victory.

It was Anderson's first appearance for almost four months after recovering from a stress fracture in his back.

“It certainly wasn’t quick from our side or from Elliot’s, he has been hugely frustrated that he hasn’t been able to kick on sooner and return to training sooner," said Howe.

"I think it was the kind of injury where he had to be very patient, which is hugely frustrating. He felt OK but with that type of injury he had to be very careful, and we had to be careful with him. But when he started his rehab and started back on the grass he looked really good and he felt fine. The last stage of his injury has been pretty quick.

"We were very keen to get him on the pitch with penalties in mind. We see him every day practising penalties and he executes them very well but still he had to come in relatively cold, he was only on the field five minutes then had to have the composure to execute it and he did superbly."

The 21-year-old has made 13 appearances for Newcastle this campaign but that figure could have been far higher had he remained fit. The midfielder's injury came at a time when United were already without Sandro Tonali, Joe Willock and Harvey Barnes.

Anderson is, however, set for a run of games with Tonali and Joelinton out, while Bruno Guimaraes remains just one Premier League yellow card away from a one-match ban.

Asked about Anderson's role between now and May, Howe replied: “Very similar to Joe Willock and a couple of other players, he’s technically fit but maybe not in the condition that we need him in to play regularly. We’re going to have to nurse him back and look after him because we want him to stay fit.

"He’s been a huge miss for us because of his versatility… to have his ability to play wide, central, creative, goalscorer, when you miss him and Joelinton at the same time a lot of the versatility in the squad goes and your ability to chop and change things. Great to have him back."