Newcastle United will decide on sanctioning loan transfers for Freddie Woodman and Elliot Anderson after their FA Cup tie at home to Cambridge United, according to Chronicle Live.
The Magpies host Mark Bonner’s League One U’s at St James’ Park in a third-round meeting on Saturday. Newcastle exited the competition at the first challenge under Steve Bruce last season, when Arsenal won 2-0 after extra-time.
Eddie Howe will want to avoid repeating his predecessor’s record before turning attentions to deals for those on his fringes. Anderson is yet to play a first-team game this term, while Woodman last featured on September 11 during Bruce’s tenure.
Woodman desperate to leave Newcastle on loan in January
Woodman started Newcastle’s opening four Premier League fixtures and their Carabao Cup defeat to Burnley this season. Bruce turned to the 24-year-old on his return from two-years on loan at Swansea, with Karl Darlow (covid) and Martin Dubravka (foot injury) unavailable.
But Woodman struggled behind a defence that wilted under pressure and he lost his place after losing to Manchester United. The goalkeeper fumbled Mason Greenwood’s attempt, which invited Cristiano Ronaldo to score. The Portuguese later fired again through his legs.
Bruce instantly recalled Darlow following the Old Trafford affair before Dubravka took over under Howe in November. Woodman, meanwhile, has made one of Newcastle’s last 15 matchday squads and is now ‘desperate’ to secure another loan transfer.
Woodman is determined to leave Newcastle on loan before the January transfer window ends. He has an ardent wish to play regular first-team football over the rest of the season.
A clutch of EFL clubs are monitoring Woodman and Anderson’s situations at Newcastle in view of securing loan transfers. Promotion-contending Bournemouth had sought to sign Woodman in the summer market, too, when Chronicle Live also cited a £10m valuation.
Anderson needs to seal a loan transfer
Unlike Woodman, Anderson has not played any senior football at Newcastle under Bruce or Howe entering the January transfer window. He has also only featured seven times for the Magpies’ U23s. But the midfielder has scored five goals in six Premier League 2 games.
Anderson made each of his two first-team outings to date in January 2021, with both also at Arsenal. He debuted in the Toon’s FA Cup tie and played three-minutes in a top-flight defeat nine-days later. A loan move would be the 19-year-old’s first spell away, as well.
So, a loan transfer should appeal to Anderson if Newcastle deem a suitor to be satisfactory. He should also attract interest, given Bruce’s praise following his debut in north London.
“As soon as he comes onto the pitch, he accepts the ball, receives the ball,” Bruce said, via The I. “He’s got that lovely way of never looking like he’s rushed. It’s effortless to him and easy. So, we hope he’s got a big future.”
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