Elliot Anderson may have only just turned 18, but there can’t be an ‘U-23’ at the club closer to a first-team call up from Steve Bruce.
The North Shields star was handed a new deal at Newcastle United earlier this month and has now taken his brilliant start to 2020/21 to the next level on Tuesday night.
Despite training with the senior squad for several months, he continues to play for our U-23’s – and has just scored two as captain in our EFL Trophy clash with Bolton Wanderers first team!
Watch his brace below in Bolton:
Sadly, our U-23’s went on to lose the game 3-2, despite being 2-0 up thanks to Anderson’s early double, however there’s not much else the 18-year-old could’ve done to stake a claim for Saturday.
This brace comes after he’s bagged four goals and an assist in our four Premier League 2 games so far this season, with him inspiring us to a stunning 4-3 win from 0-3 down the week before last.
Before that he bagged both our goals in a 3-2 defeat to Reading, meaning his tally now stands at six goals and an assist in eight appearances in all competitions. Not bad at all for an 18-year-old attacking midfielder in his first full season at U-23 level!
I’m often reluctant to see us throw youngsters in for the sake of it – it can do more harm than good if they’re not ready – but Anderson has been training with seniors at some time and reminds me of a young Ross Barkley who might just be ready to make the step up.
One to watch this weekend and a certain one for the future if not!
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