Elliot Anderson insists it was ‘Newcastle or nothing’ after signing a new long-term deal at St James’ Park, revealing how motivated he is to keep his place in Eddie Howe’s Premier League plans.
Speaking to NUFC TV, Anderson admits he’s ‘very happy’ and ‘excited’ to sign a new contract with his boyhood club; who he originally joined at the age of just eight-years-old.
The19-year-old has spoken very highly of manager Eddie Howe but made it clear that he is still trying to ‘build a trust’ with his boss and is working hard to ‘do the little things’ in hopes to impress Howe and earn his first start.
After an impressive loan-spell at Bristol Rovers, the young star has claimed the experience helped him to ‘mature as a player and a person’ and that he ‘loved every minute of it’.
Now, the Scottish Youth international is fully focused on maintaining his place in the squad and building on his recent home debut against Crystal Palace which he described as ‘special’ and ‘his biggest moment so far’.
On signing the contract, Anderson said: “I’m very happy to commit my future with my boyhood club and continue my dream. I’m really excited for the coming years, we’re going in the right direction.
“I came back from pre-season and only had one thing in my mind, to stick around. Luckily I’ve done that so hopefully I can kick on.
“It’s the cub I’ve grown up around since I was a kid and all I’ve known is Newcastle, it’s a really proud moment for me and my family. There’s no other decision, it’s Newcastle or nothing.”
On Howe, Anderson said: “I’m still trying to build this trust for him to start me and I’ve just got to work on that every time I come on the pitch or in training. I think by doing the little things he wants to see it’s helped me a lot.”
On his loan spell, Anderson said: “It helped me a lot, it matured me as a person and as a player living away from home and experiencing proper professional football for the first time.
“I loved every minute of it and it ended well. I think it was a big part of it moving away and building that sort of responsibility to live by yourself and become a man.”
