'Outstanding' 21 y/o set for Newcastle United emergence after four months setback

Eddie Howe hopes Elliot Anderson’s performance versus Tottenham Hotspur can kick-start the Newcastle United midfielder’s career.

The Magpies were rampant against Spurs on Saturday as an Alexander Isak double and goals from Anthony Gordon & Fabian Schar recorded a 4-0 victory. It saw United move from eighth to sixth in the Premier League table as they claimed back-to-back wins for the first time since early December.

Although Isak and Gordon grabbed the headlines for their goal contributions, it was the display of Anderson that really caught Howe’s eye.

The former Scotland youth international started only his second game since returning in late-February from four months out with a back problem, one that severely delayed his progress. But Howe believes now is the time for Anderson to impress.

“We saw, hopefully, the emergence of Elliot Anderson to what we all thought for a long time,” said Howe. “That he's an outstanding player and that he will be a very good player for us, not just short-term but long-term.”

Anderson lined up on the left-hand side of the midfield three which also featured Bruno Guimaraes and Sean Longstaff. His physicality, aggression and tenacity has brought comparisons to way Joelinton - currently sidelined with a thigh injury - goes about business.

But when that was put to Howe, he told NewcastleWorld: “I’d say they are different players. I wouldn't put them in the same category. Elliot brings his unique version of ball winning, duels but I wouldn’t say he is sort of a natural like Joelinton is, I think that is just more through his passion and endeavour.”

Howe sees Anderson as a player who can make a huge impact in the final third. He continued: “What he can bring is a totally different thing technically and his delivery around the box. I think we’ll see that steadily improve through time.

“I think he will be a goalscorer and goal creator for us, we’ve seen that in training for a long period of time. I can’t speak highly enough of how he has come back from his injury, I think he’s in a really good place.”

Anderson is just one appearance shy of making 50 for Newcastle having first made his debut away to Arsenal in January 2021.