Elliot Anderson (footballer)
Elliot Anderson (born 6 November 2002) is a professional footballer who plays for League Two club Bristol Rovers on loan from Premier League club Newcastle United as a midfielder. Born in England and of Scottish descent, Anderson has represented both countries at a youth international level. Early life. Anderson hails from Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear. His father, Iain, played in non-league football, and his maternal grandfather, Geoff Allen, played as an outside-left for Newcastle United from 1964 to 1968.Anderson also played for Sutton making 1 appearance before going to Newcastle United u18s. Club career . Newcastle United. Anderson first joined Newcastle United at the age of eight having previously been at Wallsend Boys Club and signed his first professional contract with the club in November 2019, signing another long-term deal a year later on his eighteenth birthday. On 9 January 2021, Anderson made his first-team debut in a 2–0 defeat to Arsenal in the third round of the FA Cup. On 18 January, Anderson made his Premier League debut against the same opposition in a 3–0 defeat, as a 87th minute substitute. Bristol Rovers (loan). On 31 January 2022, Anderson joined League Two  side Bristol Rovers on loan until the end of the 2021–22 season. He made his debut on 5 February, impressing off of the bench in a 1–1 draw at Sutton United. Anderson opened his account for the club, scoring the first league goal of his career, with the second in a 4–0 away win at Stevenage before assisting namesake Harry Anderson for the third four minutes later in a performance that was rated 9/10 by local media outlet "Bristol Live". Following a 1–0 victory over Colchester United in which Anderson scored the only goal of the game, his third goal  for the club and scoring for a second consecutive match, manager and former Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton compared Anderson's style of play to that of Diego Maradona. Anderson was awarded the League Two Goal of the Month award for March 2022 for his impressive solo run and finish against Harrogate Town, receiving 50% of the public vote. International career. Born in England, Anderson is of Scottish descent through a grandmother. He was a youth international for Scotland at U16, U17 & U18 level. He switched his allegiance back to England in March 2021, making his debut in a friendly against  Arsenal U23s on 27 March 2021. Anderson was selected in the Scotland under-21 squad in November 2021. Anderson received a second call-up for the Scotland U21 squad in March 2022, instead opting to remain with his loan club Bristol Rovers.