Is it time for Elliot Anderson? His Newcastle United first-team hopes assessed after Eddie Howe arrival

Newcastle United young star Elliot Anderson has set his sights on impressing new boss Eddie Howe
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Elliot Anderson wants to challenge for a first-team spot under new head coach Eddie Howe.

The young Magpies star caught the eye on Monday evening with a second-string string hat-trick in a 3-1 victory against Nottingham Forest.

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Here, we take a look at Anderson’s current siutation on Tyneside and assess his chances of forcing his way into Howe’s starting XI.

Debut, loan interest and injuries 

This time last year, Anderson appeared on Newcastle’s Premier League bench for the first time in a 2-0 away victory at Crystal Palace.

By the turn of 2021, the North Shields-born midfielder was handed his first-team bow, playing 39 minutes in an FA Cup defeat at Arsenal before nine days later playing a mere three minutes in the league on the same ground.

Despite loan interest from Championship clubs, the Magpies kept hold of Anderson, which suggested further senior outings would come.

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However, as United plummeted into a relegation battle, Bruce lent on his experienced players. While he’s been named as a substitute since, Anderson’s last appearance was on January 8, 2021.

A hip injury ruled the Scotland under-21s international out over pre-season and as a result, saw the club turn down loan interest from Luton Town.

Anderson endured another brief spell on the sidelines in recent weeks but his hat-trick against Forest is a strong indication that the player is edging closer to full fitness.

What Elliot Anderson has said about his first-team hopes 

Anderson has trained with the first-team since Howe’s arrival but missed out on the matchday squad versus Brentford.

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The 19-year-old was on the bench in away games at Watford and Wolves this term – and has now set his sights on impressing United’s new head coach.

“I haven’t played in three or four weeks and to score a hat-trick to get my goal tally up is quite important to me,” he told NUFC.co.uk after scoring his fifth, sixth and seventh goal of the season against Forest.

“In the short-term, I’m trying to impress the manager as much as I can, show what I’ve got and see if he notices.”

How Elliot Anderson could fit into Eddie Howe’s plans 

Anderson typically likes to play as a number 10, although he has also played as a central midfielder where he can run forward from deep for the under-23 side.

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During his senior debut at Arsenal, Anderson played as a left-winger, which suggests he has the versatility to play anywhere across the midfield.

In Howe’s current set-up – the formations he opted for against Brentford (3-4-3 & 4-3-2-1) – would require Anderson to displace the likes of Joelinton, Allan Saint-Maximin, Ryan Fraser and Miguel Almiron.

Central midfield is also a very crowded area with Jonjo Shelvey, Joe Willock, Sean Longstaff and Isaac Hayden fighting for places.

On current viewing, it’s a big ask to break into the starting XI. In Anderson’s own words, he just needs to keep impressing Howe and see where it takes him.

But if a first-team opportunity doesn’t present itself, a loan move for Anderson in January is crucial, having missed out on one twice before.