Elliot Anderson has jetted out to Austria as part of Newcastle United's first-team squad for their pre-season tour.
The 19-year-old impressed Magpies boss Eddie Howe in Saturday's 5-1 friendly win against Gateshead on Saturday, playing the first 45 minutes and helping to create Matt Ritchie's early opener at Newcastle's training ground on Saturday.
“I thought he did very well,” Howe told the Newcastle Chronicle. “I thought he showed real endeavour and desire to do well. He showed his quality as well, turning really well with the ball. I thought he did well with Ryan Fraser first period.”
Anderson was a star of Bristol Rovers' promotion-winning campaign last season, with the January deadline day signing scoring seven goals and adding six assists in his 21 appearances for Joey Barton's Gas. Rovers would love to take the Scotland under-21 international on loan again but are realistic about the chances of signing him.
Championship clubs Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion, Luton Town and Millwall are also reportedly interested, but they too could miss out. There is a realistic chance Anderson could be included in Howe's first-team squad because as an under-21 player, Anderson would not take up a place in the 25-man squad list that clubs are required to submit to the Premier League.
Coupled with his roaring success out on loan, Howe is taking a close look at Anderson and that will continue overseas in the coming days. The St James' Park boss has decided to include Anderson in his travelling squad for the tour to Austria.
Anderson could feature in games against 1860 Munich and Mainz 05 on Friday and July 18 respectively before the Magpies travel to Lisbon to face Benfica at the Estádio de Luz on July 26. That schedule is set to delay Newcastle's decision on their homegrown prospect's future.
The teenager made a huge impression after his arrival at Rovers, which coincided with a dramatic upturn in form that would lead the club to promotion on the final day.
He scored winning goals against Colchester United and Salford City and his late header against Scunthorpe United on the final day gave the Gas the seventh they needed to complete their promotion miracle.
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