Newcastle United currently have seven players out on loan.
Jake Turner at Colchester, Oisin McEntee at Greenock Morton, Kell Watts at Wigan, Lewis Cass at Port Vale, Matty Longstaff at Aberdeen, Rodrigo Vilca at Doncaster and Tom Allan at Greenock Morton.
So, why did Elliott Anderson not go to Luton Town and become number 8?
The Chronicle revealed on deadline day that the Championship side had made another bid for the highly-rated Geordie, yet, once again, it seems we have denied what seems like an ideal move for the lad.
Was there more too it than merely Bruce wanting him to be available for first team duties when he returns to fitness? I can only hope so as there seems no other logic to it.
Vilca is a big hope – although is four years older than Anderson – Allan, Watts and Matty have all had first team experience, particularly Matty. Cass has been out on loan before and McEntee is a player that also has promise. All I’m sure will benefit from their loan spells and get some senior football into their legs.
So why not Anderson? Yes, he’s had a disrupted summer due to an ongoing hip issue, but surely The Club could have sorted out a deal that would benefit a youngster that is perhaps the most highly prized potential asset we have. It just doesn’t seem right.
If Bruce is not going to use Anderson when his fitness returns then there seems no logic to keep a player for the Under-23s especially one that broke though to the first-team last season and looked very comfortably in that environment.
Toon supporters are always keen and quick to “big” up a local youngster and there’s no doubting in Anderson we have a player that looks a likely bet. The supporters were excited by what they saw last season and we can only hope that he turns that potential into fruition.
Or perhaps he’s more injured than the Club are letting on? Saying that, Bruce’s last mention of Anderson saw him suggest he’s made good progress and is close to returning.
Again, this is part of the frustration around keeping fans informed. Whilst we perhaps don’t have a right to demand or be supplied with information I think in Anderson’s case an explanation is owed to see what we are doing with someone that is considered to be one of the most high-profile prospects.
