Elliot Anderson has revealed he has remained in contact with Bristol Rovers manager Joey Barton this summer, but the promotion hero is fully focused on breaking into Newcastle United's first team.
Anderson has enjoyed a superb pre-season with his boyhood club after his heroics in a blue and white shirt last season, and the Newcastle Chronicle rates the 19-year-old a "genuine contender" to start in the Magpies' Premier League opener against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
The playmaker made his first appearance at St James' Park last week in the friendly win over Atalanta, winning the penalty that Chris Wood scored to secure the victory, and Anderson also started in Lisbon against Portuguese giants Benfica last month.