Bristol Rovers boss Joey Barton has revealed a conversation with Newcastle United loan manager Shola Ameobi was instrumental in the Gas bagging Elliot Anderson's services on loan this season.
Anderson produced some inspiring form during his time with the Gas this season, helping them to an almost improbable 7-0 win over Scunthorpe on the final day of the League Two season to send Bristol Rovers up automatically via goal difference at Northampton Town's expense. The 19-year-old prodigy picked up both the EFL Young Player and EFL League Two Player of the month awards in April, to go along with his Sky Bet Goal of the Month award he bagged in March for his spectacular effort against Harrogate Town.
Dubbed 'the Geordie Maradona' by Barton himself, Anderson could be the brightest prospect Newcastle have produced in years. He made his Premier League debut back in 2021 against Arsenal, replacing Miguel Almiron in the 87th minute in a 3-0 defeat at the Emirates.
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Anderson was pivotal in helping the Gas to promotion from League One, with Barton revealing a conversation with ex-team mate Shola Ameobi played a key part in his arrival at the Memorial Stadium.
"For Elliot Anderson, (it was) Shola Ameobi," Barton told BBC Radio Bristol.
"We were together in England Under-21s and then, obviously, we played for Newcastle together and our wives are really good friends. He is the loan manager at Newcastle and he was like ‘Look, we’ve got this young kid who needs a loan, he’s desperate. He’s been training with the first team. You’ll love him’.
"I said ‘Shols, first loan, it’s tough coming into League Two on a first loan’, and he’s gone ‘No, no, all day he is right up your street’. I then had that verified by Newcastle’s academy manager who was the goalie when we won the Championship.
"It’s about good relationships. You’re trading on fantastic working relationships with people who know you and the type of people who work well with you and the type of people who don’t work so well with you.
"I’m fortunate. Eddy and the guys at the club filter a list down and then your contacts within the game filter a list down. They tend to give you some good information that helps you get your hands on good players like Elliot, who was an incredible signing for us in the January period."
Anderson is thought to be attracting plenty of interest from League One and Championship sides for next season, but could also remain at St James' Park, with Eddie Howe keen to see how the midfielder handles himself in pre-season.
"I think Elliot is capable of getting in Newcastle’s first team this summer," Barton added.
"I think if Eddie [Howe] plays him in some of the pre-season games, he’s a much better player than I was. He’s got a real chance of becoming a major player in Newcastle’s first team with the correct guidance in the next period, and what better club can you be at in English football at the minute."
