Bristol Rovers will have to wait until the very end of the summer transfer window to find out if they can re-sign Elliot Anderson after Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe admitted the midfielder would be staying for the start of the Premier League season.
Anderson delivered another impressive display on Friday night as the Magpies beat Serie A side Atalanta 1-0 with the 19-year-old winning the penalty from which Chris Wood scored the only goal of the game.
Rovers are among a host of clubs at Championship, League One and Scottish Premier League level who wish to sign Anderson on loan for the 2022/23 season, with Sheffield Wednesday, West Brom, Luton Town and Millwall on a list well into double figures.
Howe has always been honest and consistent about the situation since Anderson returned from his hugely successful and impressive five-month loan with the Gas in which he scored eight goals in 21 games, playing an influential and important role in Rovers’ promotion into League One.
Howe has maintained that Anderson will be given the chance to impress over pre-season and having been used throughout their matches in Germany, Portugal and now back at St James’ Park, it appears a decision for the start of the season has been made.
When asked about Anderson's immediate future, Howe said: "It's a very good question. I will sit here, and answer the questions but no decision will be made on a loan until the end of the window. But as it stands it looks like he is going to stay. He did well for the penalty and could have scored.
"In pre-season he has got better and better. I knew his quality and last year we couldn't give him an opportunity. He came back a better player from Bristol Rovers."
For his part, Anderson has always maintained his goal is to try and win his place in the Newcastle first-team and the lack of transfer activity in that department coupled with his performances and status as a homegrown player has aided his cause.
Anderson won’t take up a spot in the Magpies 25-man squad having been with the club since he was eight. Newcastle open their Premier League campaign against Nottingham Forest at St James’ Park on August 6.
Bristol Live understands that despite the volume of clubs interested in signing Anderson, there is confidence within the Mem that they are towards the front of the queue due to the consistent minutes he would be provided - he started 20 of 21 matches last season - and the very real evidence of his improvement so far on Barton’s watch, as referenced by Howe on Friday night.
Barton admitted on Thursday that Rovers’ quiet few weeks in the market, having not made a new signing since John Marquis arrived on July 4, is in-part driven by waiting on Premier League clubs to make decisions on whether to loan out young talent or not.
It remains to be seen whether the Gas are willing to wait until the end of August for Anderson, in what could be a fruitless task anyway should he stay in the north east or be loaned out elsewhere. That being said, such is the level of his talent and likely impact in League One, should a deal be workable, he’s an individual worth being patient for.
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