Elliot Anderson has been backed to “explode” onto the scene for Nottingham Forest – if he can pin down his best position and regular football.
The midfielder became the Reds’ third signing of the summer when he made the move from Newcastle United in the early hours of Monday morning. He put pen to paper on a five-year contract as a deal worth in the region of £35 million was completed.
The versatility Anderson offers will be particularly useful for Forest head coach Nuno Espirito Santo, who likes to work with a small squad. The newcomer has the ability to operate as a No.8, a No.10 and out wide, but finding the role that suits him best could be the key to unlocking his potential.
“I think he just needs to nail down his best position and he probably needs to improve his numbers in terms of goals and assists,” Sean McCormick from ChronicleLive told NottinghamshireLive. “The talent and potential is there and the thought for the last two years is that he is ready to explode if he is given a consistent run of games in one position. If Forest can do that, he will.
“Anderson’s pretty versatile, but it’s maybe that versatility that saw him struggle to consistently nail down a regular position in the starting XI. He played either on the left-hand side of the midfield three or on the left-hand side of the front three and did pretty well in both positions.
“He is good with both feet, moves really well with the ball, is well balanced and has an abundance of energy. He could probably do with nailing down his best position to really thrive and fulfil his undoubted potential but he played his best football with Newcastle in a three-man midfield.”
Aged 21, Anderson still has plenty of room for growth. However, he arrives at the City Ground with a fair bit of experience already under his belt.