How Newcastle have unearthed their next Elliot Anderson
2 weeks ago
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Published Sep 24, 2026, 7:15 AM GMT+1
Angus is an experienced football writer at Football FanCast, specialising in analytical reporting, opinion and feature writing, with particular expertise in Liverpool, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur.
A journalist since graduating from Southampton Solent University in 2022, Angus has built extensive experience across the football media industry. Before joining Football FanCast, he led VAVEL's Brighton & Hove Albion department, developing experience in club-specific reporting and editorial leadership.
Angus joined Football FanCast through Snack Media's (now Valnet) academy and has since become one of the site's longest-serving writers, progressing into the Opinions and Features team. During his time with Football FanCast, he has produced thousands of articles across a broad range of Premier League clubs and stories.
His work combines analytical reporting, informed opinion and detailed feature writing, with a particular focus on understanding the factors behind performances, transfers and major developments rather than simply reporting the headline. His strongest areas of expertise are Liverpool, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur, although his extensive Premier League coverage has given him a broad understanding of the English top flight.
Angus brings readers experienced, research-led football analysis and considered opinion, using his years of covering the Premier League to provide context, assess players and transfers, and explain what the latest developments mean for clubs and their ambitions.
Sitting not pretty but with promise in eighth place in the Premier League as the international curtain draws down on the football calendar, Newcastle United are settling into a new chapter.
Is it perfect? No. Will there be hitches in the road? Undoubtedly. But Matthias Jaissle has cultivated a sense of family and focus from the off, and has rebounded summer setbacks, missing out on a slew of targets such as Victor Munoz and Johan Manzambi and James Trafford.
REUTERS/Lee Smith
Newcastle have made mistakes, but they also have enough quality and promise within St. James' Park's walls for supporters to be optimistic about the era ahead, with a refreshed transfer strategy, tailored toward signing younger players, making an argument for illustrious success in the future.
PIF are determined to show they have learned from their mistakes, with the sale of Elliot Anderson to Nottingham Forest the biggest, and most regrettable, of them all.
Why selling Elliot Anderson was so damaging for Newcastle
At the time, banking £35m for Anderson felt like good business from Newcastle, who had circumvented potential PSR repercussions and kept a tight grip on in-demand superstars such as Anthony Gordon and Bruno Guimaraes and Alexander Isak.
The issue, of course, is that all three stars have now vacated the premises - and after a woeful year in the Premier League too, falling to a 12th-place finish and losing their European credentials.
A wave of summer signings have been made, but Anderson would have been oh-so great as the midfield flagship, especially as Sandro Tonali has also jumped ship, signing for Tottenham in a £100m transfer.
After all, he rose to eliteness over two years at the City Ground with Forest, becoming "one of the best midfielders in world football", according to Sky Sports reporter Joe Tomlinson, and his £116m move to Manchester City this summer has corroborated that claim.
Elliot Anderson in the Premier League for Forest
Stats (* per 90)
24/25
25/26
Matches (starts)
37 (33)
38 (37)
Goals + Assists
2 + 6
4 + 4
Touches*
54.2
86.8
Accurate passes*
28.7 (82%)
53.6 (86%)
Big chances created
7
9
Key passes*
1.0
1.4
Possession lost*
12.0
17.3
Succ. dribbles*
1.0
1.3
Ball recoveries*
5.6
8.1
Def. contributions*
5.1
5.1
Duels won*
6.5
7.8
Two years with the Tricky Trees put his name on the map, but Anderson is maturing in Enzo Maresca's City system, a duel-winning, ball-progressing machine.
It goes to show: this Geordie-grown prospect could have been a superstar for Newcastle, the figurehead of a system whose decline may have been avoided, had he stood inside the centre-circle over the past two years.
REUTERS/Jason Cairnduff
Alas, no use crying any more tears over missed opportunities. Jaissle must look forward, and he is, with the club having found their new version of Anderson.
Newcastle have struck gold on their new Elliot Anderson
Once upon a time, Newcastle had a future midfield superstar in their grip. They might have lost Anderson, but the summer sales of Guimaraes and Tonali, combined with Joelinton's decline, meant that signing high-quality midfield replacements was paramount.
In Nico Gonzalez, Jaissle has a top talent, but they have also signed a younger player with much more potential.
Indeed, Sean Steur proved he's the real deal against Hull City - but Newcastle fans already had an inkling that they welcomed a future sensation to the ranks this summer.
Steur, 18 years old, joined the Tyneside outfit from Ajax for £23m in July, having established himself as one of the Netherlands' most exciting prospects last season.
Against the Tigers during Saturday's 2-1 win, Steur completed 51 of 57 passes, created two chances for his teammates, won both his tackles and three of four duels. It was a consummate display, well beyond the expectation for someone so young and inexperienced within the English game.
Withdrawn after 66 minutes, it felt like Newcastle lost their element of control and fluency thereafter. Certainly, Steur's silky movement and clever passing was sorely missed, and it already feels like he is edging up the pecking order, not far away from outstripping Lewis Miley on a permanent basis.
The 20-year-old Miley, homegrown, has been touted as the new Anderson, but it's becoming clear that Steur has the skillset to emulate Man City's superstar signing, technically brilliant and combative too.
Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith
Jaissle is clearly a big fan, and Steur has to keep earning opportunities from the start of Premier League fixtures. He is good enough, and it's obvious that with time and careful management, he could become a £100m midfielder of the same vein as Anderson.
He might not have been reared on Tyneside, but Steur can surely become an adopted son at Newcastle. He could become the centrepiece of this new project, Jaissle's very own Anderson.
2 weeks ago
17
REUTERS/Lee Smith
REUTERS/Jason Cairnduff
Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith
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