Elliot Anderson admits former Newcastle United star Joey Barton played a huge part in his successful Bristol Rovers loan spell last season. The Toon attacker, 19, flourished at the League Two side as they achieved final day promotion in the most dramatic fashion.
Anderson had already been touted as Newcastle 's next best youth prospect before he made the move south and has returned to even bigger fanfare after his spell away. Earning the nickname of the 'Geordie Maradona' at Rovers, he is now expected to have a big future on Tyneside.
But Newcastle actually turned down Championship and League One interest for Anderson last season, with Steve Harper and Shola Ameobi instead choosing former team-mate Barton as the man to get the best out of the youngster. A move that certainly paid off with the teenager now heaping praise on the former St. James' Park favourite.
