'Eager to re-sign...' - Lee Ryder drops NUFC transfer story on 'amazing' 13 G/A talent

There is ‘lots of interest’ in Newcastle United youngster Elliot Anderson, according to The Chronicle’s Lee Ryder.

Anderson sealed a loan move from Newcastle to Bristol Rovers in the January transfer window.

He went on to play 21 League Two matches, scoring eight goals and providing five assists.

And the 19-year-old played a vital role as they dramatically secured promotion on the final day of the season by putting seven past Scunthorpe United.

Andersen scored one and set up two more to help Joey Barton’s side pip Northampton to third on goals scored.

Ryder tweeted on Monday afternoon that Rovers are ‘eager to re-sign’ Anderson on a further loan.

He’s highly coveted with ‘lots of interest’ from elsewhere, but Barton has been ‘brilliant’ for his development so far, and that could be key.

In the attached story, he explains that Barton and Anderson have a great ‘rapport’ and that the player would be ‘assured’ of game time at Rovers.

They’re hoping that will be enough to see off competition from the Championship, but there’s also a chance that Eddie Howe will consider integrating him on Tyneside.

Anderson’s loan move has been a resounding success, and Newcastle’s academy boss Steve Harper should be very satisfied.

The teenager has scored or assisted every 135 minutes from a midfield berth and been labelled the ‘stand-out player on the pitch’ by Barton, who regards him as a ‘huge talent’, while Gary Lineker was even stunned by his ‘amazing‘ goal at the weekend.

But his strong performances do present the club with a dilemma.

Do they favour enquiries from the Championship in the belief that playing at a higher level will better prepare Anderson for the first team? Or do they keep him a lower-level environment where he’s already