Elliot Anderson’s mazy run shows Newcastle have their next Beardsley

It was a comparison that, at first glance, made countless pairs of eyebrows across Newcastle require planning permission in a different postcode.

Former Newcastle United head scout Graham Carr was asked about the prospects of youngster Elliot Anderson and elected to compare him to club legend Peter Beardsley.

“He is classy,” Carr told the Daily Mail. “He receives the ball like Beardsley. He kills it and moves it all in one motion. That is a gift.

“He’s the best young player I have seen in a long time. Newcastle haven’t produced anyone like him, in terms of his technical gifts, probably all the way back to Gazza.”

“He plays with a swagger. Every time he gets the ball you know something is going to happen. He always wants to dribble and moves off quickly. He knows he’s good, but there’s no harm in that.”

No pressure then, Elliot. But his form during his current loan spell at Bristol Rovers has made a lot of people connected with Newcastle very excited – and started an international tug-of-war.

The 19-year-old has been involved with Scotland’s Under-21s this season having previously been capped at youth level, where he also appeared in a friendly for England Under-19s.

Anderson, who was born and raised in North Tyneside, is currently registered with the Scots, but England are confident of luring the midfielder to the Three Lions set-up.

One look at this opportunity Anderson created during a mundane draw at Sutton United is enough to understand why England would go to such lengths to secure his international future.

Rovers scrambled a point, boosting their promotion chances in a ridiculously competitive League Two, primarily because Anderson managed to make mincemeat out of his opponents.

After picking up the ball in his own