Despite making just six appearances for England, Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliott Anderson is almost certain to be included in Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad.
England’s Elliot Anderson speaks to the media
As a child born in Whitley Bay, Elliot Anderson’s face lit up as soon as he heard Paul Gascoigne’s name. After Italia 90, Gazza became a national hero and will forever be remembered as a Geordie legend who graced England’s magical moment.
Nottingham Forest midfielder Anderson, 23, grew up at Newcastle’s academy with Gascoigne’s nephew Cameron, where he met his Toon Army heroes. Years later, Gaza remains a source of inspiration and Anderson is less than three months away from realizing his World Cup dream.
“He’s a great player and played a very important role in the World Cup. It would be nice to be close to that level,” Anderson said.
“His nephew played in the same team as me at Wallsend, so I used to come and watch him whenever he played. And we both joined the academy. I was just a kid, so I don’t really remember what he said.”
read more: Manchester United target Elliott Anderson makes his summer priorities clear – ‘Everything I’m thinking about’read more: Thomas Tuchel plans to end England’s experiment ahead of Japan match following Harry Kane’s return
Anderson may not remember what Gazza said, but the memory is still fresh in his mind. Although he is a quiet and soft-spoken person, Anderson is also ambitious and his rise in England has been nothing short of remarkable.
He was victimized by Newcastle, which needed to sell the family’s silver to meet profit and sustainability rules. However, a fresh start at Forest saw him promoted to a Premier League regular.
England manager Thomas Tuchel watched as Anderson starred in the under-21 team’s training session at St George’s Park when manager Lee Carsley suggested he drop deeper into the number six role.
The sliding door moment was pivotal. Anderson often plays as a forward at Forest, but has played deeper in England as he forms a strong partnership with Declan Rice.
Anderson and Declan Rice quickly formed a solid partnership at the heart of England’s midfield (Image: Getty)
Join us on Facebook! For the latest news, analysis and more on our Mirror Football Facebook page
Incredibly, Anderson only has six caps and although it feels like he has been playing for England for years, he only made his debut last September. Now, Anderson is one of England’s 11 “untouchables” who was given time off last week to recharge his batteries, but is expected to settle into the squad this summer.
Of all England players, only Rice and Morgan Rodgers have played more minutes for their clubs than Anderson, who has logged 3,427 minutes. Anderson was grateful for the break. “I went to Marbella and got some sun and spent three or four days there, which was really nice,” Anderson said.
“Yes, I played a lot. The coach talked to us beforehand and said he wanted to give us a little bit of a break because we played a lot of games and minutes. It was good, I feel fresh.”
“Yeah, it gives me good confidence. But it’s definitely not a guarantee that I’ll get called up. But hopefully, if I keep moving forward and keep doing what I’m doing, I’ll be there in the summer, hopefully.”
Anderson admits his rise has been nothing short of meteoric. “It was crazy. It happened so fast. I didn’t think it could happen this fast,” he said.
“I’m just trying to take everything in its stride and enjoy every moment. It’s really incredible to play with these guys and I’m learning every day.”
Although Anderson played a lot of minutes, he also took care of himself. “At home, I have organized everything I need for recovery, including a hyperbaric chamber and a red light sauna,” he said.
“I’ve been really focused on the recovery side to get ready for the next game. I haven’t started doing yoga or anything like that. I’ve been really focused on the recovery side.”
“I spoke to the England staff and they offered these things to put me in the best possible place.”
Lee Carsley played a key role in Anderson’s development
Anderson continues to study to fully learn the role of the number six, which Sergio Busquets describes as “ridiculous”, but there is no doubt he is ready for the World Cup.
However, things could have been very different for Anderson, who through his maternal grandmother played for Scotland at under-21 level, but was persuaded by manager Carsley to switch allegiance.
He added: “I’ve always played for Scotland. I got injured in one of the camps and was out, and then it took me a while to make a decision, so I chose England.”
“Yes, I had a meeting with Lee and it went really well. He said he really believes in what you’ve got and thinks you can get there. Of course I believed in myself, but it was nice to hear that from someone who works within the UK.”
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive Mirror Football content every day. Community members also receive special offers, promotions, and advertisements from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check it out whenever you like. If you are interested, please read our privacy notice.
