Newcastle United are at a crossroads this summer when it comes to the development of starlet Elliot Anderson. The 19-year-old produced a number of stellar performances for Bristol Rovers last season, helping the Gas secure automatic promotion to League One on the final day of the season.
Anderson scored the all important seventh goal in Bristol's 7-0 win over Scunthorpe, which saw them leapfrog Northampton Town on goal difference into the League Two automatic promotion spots.
Dubbed 'The Geordie Maradona' by his Bristol Rovers teammates, Anderson could be the best player Newcastle's academy has produced in years.
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However, this summer could be a pivotal one in the teenagers development. Newcastle have to make sure they get it right when it comes to where Anderson plays his football during the upcoming campaign.
ChronicleLive takes a look at the Magpies options for Anderson next season...
Stay at St James'
Eddie Howe has already said Anderson will be given a chance to prove himself during Newcastle's pre-season. That would indicate Newcastle's management hold the teenager in the highest regard. They've not said he has no shot at first team football. They've instead challenged Anderson to produce during pre-season.
That challenge should excite Newcastle fans. While the jump from League Two to the Premier League is a huge one, Anderson has been tipped to go to the very top.
However, where would Anderson fit in Howe's 4-3-3? Would he be shifted out on to the wing? Or would he operate in one of the left or right hand side central midfield roles? Anderson is more of an attacking midfielder, meaning he would have to adapt to a different role under Howe.
Then there's the question of who is already ahead of him. On the wings, Allan Saint-Maximin, Ryan Fraser and Miguel Almiron are all ahead of Anderson.
Centrally, Joelinton, Sean Longstaff and Joe Willock would be the likely options to slot into the right and left central midfield role assuming Jonjo Shelvey and Bruno Guimaraes operate as Newcastle's number six. That could leave Anderson as a peripheral figure, making a loan move away from St James' Park more likely.
A loan to the Championship
There's been plenty of interest in Anderson from the second tier of English football already this summer. Millwall, Luton Town, Middlesbrough, West Bromwich Albion, Coventry City, Reading and Stoke City have all been linked with the 19-year-old ahead of the upcoming Championship season.
A loan move to the Championship from League Two would also be a big step up, but there seems to be every indication that it's one Anderson could handle.
If the mooted Championship interest turns into a more solid offer post pre-season, Newcastle will be able to pick out the best option for Anderson's development.
He's at an age where he needs to be playing to kick-on in his development and a season of first team football in the Championship could help take his game to the next level.
A loan to League One
One of the more obvious options for where Anderson could end up next season is back with Joey Barton and Bristol Rovers.
During his time with the Gas, Anderson picked up the EFL's Young Player of the Month Award for April. Therefore, a move back to Bristol Rovers would make sense. Rovers obviously know Anderson well and it's a place the 19-year-old seemed to have settled well.
Sheffield Wednesday have also been linked with a loan move for the teenager but Newcastle could opt to send Anderson back to Bristol.
Shola Ameobi's relationship with former teammate Barton was credited as a big factor in why Anderson ended up at Bristol at the turn of the year. It might comfort Newcastle to know they have a good relationship with the manager Anderson is working with, making a return to Bristol all the more likely.
