Newcastle prospect Anderson completes loan move to Bristol Rovers

The 19-year-old had been the subject of interest from Championship side Luton Town in recent weeks but he will now get his first experience of regular first-team football working under former Magpies midfielder Joey Barton.

Anderson has long been viewed as one of the brightest prospects in United’s academy and made two first-team appearances last season under former manager Steve Bruce.

Current boss Eddie Howe is a keen admirer of the talented midfielder and named Anderson as an unused substitute in Premier League fixtures against Manchester City, Manchester United and Watford.

Howe addressed the possibility of allowing Anderson to depart on loan as spoke to the media during the first-team training camp in Saudi Arabia.

He said: “With Elliot, we’re looking at the possibility of loaning him but nothing is confirmed on that.

“The purpose of him staying behind was for him to be available to move and ready to potentially join another club on a loan deal. We’re waiting to see whether that’s going to happen or not.”

Anderson will spend the remainder of the season with Rovers and will hope to force his way into Howe’s first-team plans when he returns to Tyneside in the summer.