What undid Elliot Anderson at Newcastle United – and what has been the making of him

Elliot Anderson has been a standout player for Nottingham Forest after joining from Newcastle United amid a PSR shortfall at St James' Park.

Elliot Anderson has starred for new club Nottingham Forest this season.

It was the same old story every game.

The setting was Whitley Park, a stone’s throw from Newcastle United’s training ground.

And the regulars for the club’s Premier League 2 games knew all too well that one player was destined to make the step up to first-team football.

This player seemingly had technique, drive, vision and physicality in equal measure. If he wasn’t scoring goals, he was creating them.

Aged 17, he was bossing second-string games in the 2020/21 season. He was also a leader, and he was soon handed the captain’s armband.

This player, of course, was Elliot Anderson, who looked a natural No.10, though he was good enough to play in just about any position such was his ability and athleticism.

Those qualities were on show in the latest round of Premier League fixtures, but not in a black and white shirt.

Nottingham Forest, Anderson’s club, posted on X last night: “We need to talk about Elliot Anderson.”

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I was talking about Anderson long before he broke into the first-team squad at Newcastle.

Anderson’s story in football had started at Wallsend Boys Club, and what John Forrest, his coach at the time, told me four years ago still resonates today.