Luton Town manager Nathan Jones insists an injury issue meant a transfer window move for Newcastle United prospect Elliot Anderson was never going to happen, speaking to Luton Today.
Much to the chagrin of many on Tyneside, exciting home-grown academy graduates have been in short supply since the turn of the century.
Apart from the Longstaff brothers and the long-departed Steven Taylor, an absence of talented up-and-comers flying through the ranks – in a hotbed of footballing passion – has been the cause of consternation and confusion.
The rapid rise of 18-year-old Anderson, however, should warm the cockles of everyone at St James’ Park.
Whitley Bay-born and hugely talented, the attacking midfielder has scored plenty of goals for Newcastle at U23 level and it seems only a matter of time before he follows Sean and Matty Longstaff into the first-team picture.
Steve Bruce, however, admitted a few months ago that a niggling hip injury was standing in Anderson’s way, not only regarding a role in Newcastle’s senior squad but also of a loan spell at an ambitious, forward-thinking Championship club.
Newcastle talent Elliot Anderson is on Luton’s radar
“We know Elliot very well,” says Jones, who returned for a second spell in the Luton dugout after a disastrous stint at Stoke City.
“We inquired about him in December but he’s been injured, so there was never any legs (in a transfer window bid).
“Elliot’s someone we know about and is on our list, as are quite a lot of them. But he’s been injured.
“He hasn’t done a pre-season, hasn’t trained, so no legs whatsoever in that.”
Anderson recently returned to first-team training – a major boost for a Newcastle side that has started the season how you’d expect for a side with the same squad that looked in danger of relegation for much of last season.
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