"Elliot Anderson spent much of Nottingham Forest's 2-0 defeat on Tyneside reminding Eddie Howe how much he lost when Premier League spending rules demanded that the midfielder be sold to fend off the threat of a points deduction. That was back in the summer of 2024 and Anderson, now an England international, has rarely looked back since joining Forest. For much of the first half he eclipsed even Sandro Tonali and, overall, was comfortably Ange Postecoglou's best player."
"Yet Anderson is human and when his loose pass offered Bruno Guimaraes an opening, his subsequent attempt at a recovery tackle was mistimed and sent Guimaraes crashing in the area. The Brazilian had already shot Newcastle ahead from 25 yards and from the spot Nick Woltemade scored his fourth goal in five starts. Tellingly, at the final whistle both Postecoglou and Howe made concerted efforts to console Anderson."
"As he sank to the Brentford turf staring at his feet, there was a barely discernible shake of the head though his body language spoke volumes. Another setback for the Spanish midfielder? It looked more than likely. Pep Guardiola has tried his best to manage Rodri's game time this season since his tentative return from a serious knee injury; now he must put more faith in alternatives."
Elliot Anderson was sold in summer 2024 under Premier League spending rules but has since become an England international and a leading performer for Nottingham Forest. Anderson outshone midfield peers in the first half but a loose pass and a mistimed recovery tackle conceded a penalty, allowing Newcastle to win 2-0. Both managers showed concern for Anderson after the match. Ange Postecoglou's fortunes at Forest will depend heavily on Anderson's talent, and Eddie Howe would welcome the chance to re-sign him. Rodri looks to have suffered a setback after a knee injury, prompting Pep Guardiola to consider alternatives such as Nico Gonzalez.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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