Joey Barton has labelled Newcastle United prospect Elliot Anderson 'invincible' and admits the loanee has already made an impression at Bristol Rovers.
The highly-rated attacking midfielder was one of several Magpies to secure loans away from Tyneside on deadline day.
Anderson was said to be attracting the attention of Championship and League One clubs, and Luton Town boss Nathan Jones has since discussed why the Hatters decided against a move.
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The 19-year-old instead secured a switch to League Two outfit Bristol Rovers and will work under the guidance of former Magpies midfielder Barton.
It is Anderson's first spell away from the 'comfort zone' of Newcastle, but Barton reckons the Scotland under-21 international is at the 'Superman age' where the challenge will not faze him.
He told the Bristol Post : "Elliot did the full session and completed it. Jon [Nolan], we’re still in the figuring him out stage. He, obviously, missed a lot of game time at Ipswich and we have to tread carefully with him.
"Young Elliot is at a different end of the scale. He’s at that Superman age when you’re pre-23 or whatever it is for a player when you feel invincible."
Barton enjoyed four seasons in black-and-white, and the Rovers boss was pressed on whether his links to the Magpies helped his side beat others to the signing of Anderson.
He answered: "Stevie Harper and Shola [Ameobi] up there, I have ex-Newcastle player links with them.
"I speak with all the clubs to see what players they have available. When you go watch games, you earmark players and enquire about their availability and the parent clubs are planning on doing with them.
"We knew Elliot was really well regarded at Newcastle. Obviously, he’s made his Premier League debut and he’s been in and around first-team training for a long period.
"It’s his first loan, so coming from Newcastle to Rovers is a step outside the comfort zone, as it is for all you players, but based on his last 24-48 hours I don’t think he’ll be phased by it at all.
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"He’s clearly a really talented boy, he’s fit straight in with the group and he’s shown already in this morning’s training the quality he possesses, so we’re delighted to have him in our club.
"The fact I’ve played for Newcastle, it’s great for me because if I can help develop young players from the clubs I played for then we’re going to have good players at Bristol Rovers because I played for some good clubs, so long may it continue."
