Maxi helped me settle – Anderson
NEWCASTLE United youngster Elliot Anderson has picked out Allan Saint-Maximin as one first team member who helped him settle with the step-up from the reserves.
There are high hopes for Anderson at Newcastle, the club turning down January advances from Championship clubs who wanted to take the 18-year-old out on loan.
The attacker has impressed in training with the first team, and ironically he may be handed a first-team start quicker than expected given injuries to Miguel Almiron and Saint-Maximin.
“He has been a massive help,” Anderson said of Saint-Maximin, “He gives me a bit of confidence boost sometimes when I’ve been left out of the squad, he’ll message me and tells me to keep working and I will get my chance.
“When I first came up, he made me feel part of the squad through his Instagram posts, and it makes you realise he’s there for you.”
A player at the centre of an international tug-of-war between England and Scotland at youth level, Anderson is highly thought of within the Magpies setup.
Anderson also paid thanks to one of the club’s youth coaches – Neil Winskill – for bringing him through the academy and into the first team.
The youngster, who made his debut against Arsenal back in January, spoke to NUFC TV about the help of Winskill, lead coach for the U18s – as well as providing an insight into the influence of head coach Steve Bruce.
“The coaches down there [academy] have helped me a lot.
“Being with Neil from 13s to 18s – he helped me progress as a player and be the player I am.
“The gaffer, he helps me, gives me a bit of confidence and ultimately he’s given me my debut so I am very happy that he has given me the sort of confidence to go out and do that.”
Anderson received the Premier League Debut Ball – an initiative where homegrown players who make their debut in the top flight are given a match ball to recognise their achievements – and spoke of the impact of it.
“It gives you that bit more motivation to keep going and try and get more and more appearances in the Premier League,” he said.
“It’s refreshing to know that if you work hard it will come – I know every day now I’ve got to keep working to try and get in that team.”