Newcastle starlet ready for "huge season" after Maradona and Gazza comparisons
Newcastle rising star Elliot Anderson has been compared to Diego Maradona, Gazza and Peter Beardsley during his rapid rise.
But the homegrown midfielder is seeking the biggest endorsement of all this season - Eddie Howe putting his name in the starting XI. Anderson has been the big winner of Newcastle’s summer tour to the USA. Three goals, including two against Brighton on Friday night, has shot him further up the pecking order.
When he was banging in goals as a teenager on loan at Bristol Rovers boss Joey Barton made the Maradona link. Ex-Toon chief scout Graham Carr went for Beardsley. Others see a bit of the bulldozing Gazza used to do in his newly strengthened physique.
United may have spent big on midfielders lately including Sandro Tonali, but the youngsters are making their mark. Anderson said after the Brighton game: “It is a huge season for me. I am trying to get on the pitch and trying to keep pushing and have more of an impact than I had last season.
“Why? Because it could go two ways really. If I don’t perform…. I need to perform and cement a place in the squad. We are in the Champions league this season which is huge for the club.
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“It doesn’t change anything for me, I need to hit the ground running and try and get in that team. I would love to start games. Everyone wants to. We have such a good team and as long as it is doing well everyone is happy, but it’d be great to get myself in there.”
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Elliot Anderson has impressed in pre-season (Getty Images for Premier League)He’s been at the club since nine, watched from the St James’ Park terraces and loved Yohan Cabaye when he was a schoolboy. He added: “I can play where I played today, and left wing. My favourite position is where I played today, left centre mid. It is a big thing to be versatile and to learn how to play in different positions. As the last few years I have worked hard in the gym. I knew it (build as a 16-7-year-old) was a negative, and hopefully, It has paid off.”
Anderson has played at youth level for Scotland but is keeping his options open with England. “I am not too sure myself,” he said. Howe is a fan and also has Lewis Miley, 17, coming through. Howe said: “He's really developing and his confidence levels have improved. The biggest tribute I can give to Elliot is his fitness levels.
Eddie Howe has been impressed by the younger members of his squad (Getty Images for Premier League)“When we came back and did the testing, he came through the fittest by some distance. So he obviously looked after himself in the summer. He was very committed to his programme and looks stronger, leaner and quicker.
“You don't score goals like that in the last minute, with the strength of his legs and upper body to go past an opponent, if you're not super fit, especially in this heat. The goals don't come by accident, they come for a reason, and that's down to him. The team is never set. You want players to, not change your opinion but force their way into our eyesight. Elliot has certainly done so.”
Howe is convinced Bruno Guimaraes will stay long-term at Newcastle, despite contract talks continuing. “There is no doubt in my mind about his future, we would love Bruno to extend his stay here for a long time.
“I'm not party to those talks, every day there are talks ongoing. I think Bruno knows how we feel about him, I know he's very happy here, so we hope there is a solution to be found.”
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