It’s been a frustrating season on so many levels for Newcastle United.
Consistency has proven a real issue for Eddie Howe and his team at times, while Newcastle’s defending has left a lot to be desired for much of the campaign.
Throw in some maddeningly difficult cup draws and big summer signing Sandro Tonali’s worldwide ban from football and it’s obvious to see that Howe has had to contend with oh so much.
It’s also difficult to ignore the injury crisis.
While the likes of Joe Colehave hinted that the problems are so bad at Newcastle that they can’t just be down to something as abstract as luck, that doesn’t take away from how frustrating it’s been.
Not only has it robbed Howe of precious options all season but it’s stopped players from developing.
Harvey Barnes is starting to come good now but how nice would it have been had the winger not suffered a freakish foot injury only a few weeks into his Newcastle career?
The random nature of at least some of Newcastle’s injuries continued recently too, with Howe also sharing quite how strange the ankle knock Tino Livramento recently suffered was.
Progress has been derailed by injuries all season but it appears one player is at least getting over them.
Eddie Howe says Newcastle staff “really rate” their “outstanding” player
Indeed, Elliot Anderson has been impressing of late.
Howe believes the 21-year-old is looking much more robust on the training pitch following his return from a complicated back injury and the midfielder helped Newcastle beat Fulham on Saturday.
It was Anderson’s fine backheel that helped tee up Barnes for the cross that eventually led to Bruno Guimaraes scoring the winning goal at Craven Cottage.
Speaking of the academy graduate, Howe said (via The Daily Telegraph): “He’s an outstanding player.
“He’s improving all the time. This was, I think, going to be a big season for him. Unfortunately, he picked up an injury which stopped his momentum – he had a brilliant pre-season.
“We really rate him, and we feel there is so much more to come. But he is certainly growing into that position and starting to look really assured.”
How did Elliot Anderson play for Newcastle against Fulham?
Brought on for the injured Joe Willock in the first-half, Anderson certainly made an impact.
According to WhoScored data, the midfielder played 2 key passes (behind only Guimaraes on that front, completed a dribble (behind only Guimaraes and Anthony Gordon) and was one of six Newcastle players who registered an interception.
There’s been a lot of hype about Anderson but injury has stopped him in his tracks. It would be fantastic to see him deliver on all the talk with more impact like that.
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