With injuries in midfield piling up, Eddie Howe has revealed that Elliot Anderson is ‘ready’ and ‘capable’ to make his first Premier League start in Monday’s crucial game against Leicester.
With Joe Willock (hamstring) leaving St James’ Park on crutches on Thursday and Sean Longstaff remaining doubtful despite training over the weekend, it looks like our ‘Geordie Maradona’ could make his second Premier League start.
It’s a tough call for Howe ahead of such an important game, but he seems to trust Anderson and has spoken highly of the 20-year-old, insisting he’d have ‘no qualms’ about starting the Academy graduate if injuries don’t clear up.
Howe revealed he would be happy to give the youngster another ‘chance’ to impress, believing he proved at Bristol Rovers that he was a ‘big game player’, often stepping up in key moments to help them to promotion. Considering we are just one point away from securing a top-four finish, it could be a special occasion for the local lad and huge opportunity to impress.
Asked if he’s be happy to start Anderson if our injury issues don’t clear up, Howe said this to the press:
“Yeh, no qualms at all (about throwing him in from the start against Leicester).
“He would’ve played more this season had it not been for the form of the players around him. The midfield has been performing so well as a unit this year. We believe in him – it’s just been the strength of the group.
“I think he showed last season in his loan spell that he’s a big game player. He stood up and made the difference when Bristol Rovers needed him, so it could be a chance for him to do that again.
“When you look back to the start he himself would say he is a first team player.
“He has been fully integrated. He’s a young player who has been desperate to play. He has controlled his emotions. He is versatile. He is ready he is capable and we believe in him.”
