Elliot Anderson’s frustrating situation at Newcastle United looks even more bizarre now.
What has happened?
With the 18-year-old away on England U19 duty during the international break, The Chronicle’s Mark Douglas revealed on Twitter that he had been told the teenager had impressed.
Operating in the No.10 role for the Young Lions during their friendly with Arsenal’s U23 side, Anderson played in an attacking unit that smashed their opponents 6-1 at St George’s Park on Saturday.
Why is it so frustrating?
Well, with Newcastle’s attack proving pretty much useless without Allan Saint-Maximin, Callum Wilson and Miguel Almiron over the last few games, the fact that Anderson hasn’t been involved is bizarre.
Indeed, while throwing a youngster in at the deep end is never ideal, he did impress during his brief cameo against Arsenal in January’s FA Cup loss at the Emirates with Steve Bruce praising the talented teenager.
Since Wilson’s injury, only Saint-Maximin and Jamaal Lascelles have scored and, without the former since late February, it is only the skipper who has found the back of the net. Given the complete lack of attacking impetus in recent weeks, the fact Anderson hasn’t even made the bench since the win over Southampton is strange.
Is he alone in getting strange treatment from Bruce?
Sadly, no.
Football Insider claimed earlier this month that the manager’s treatment of the Longstaff brothers had angered the squad and that some figures are angry about the fact both had largely been left out of first-team proceedings, with Matty denied a loan move to Watford despite the fact he’s only been handed 377 minutes of Premier League action all season.
What has Allan Saint-Maximin said about Anderson?
The aforementioned Saint-Maximin has been a vocal supporter of Anderson’s during their time together.
Back in October, the Newcastle star praised Anderson as a ‘great young player’, just after he had started training with the first-team.
