Man Utd must go all out for Elliot Anderson after Gerrard-esque display but he’s not only English midfielder targeted
ELLIOT ANDERSON was mentioned by Ruben Amorim at his pre-match press conference and he will now be a name on many Manchester United fans’ lips.
“Very good player” was Amorim’s verdict of Anderson on Thursday. He may speak more effusively about him next time.
Sign up for the newsletter
Thank you!
Elliot Anderson has impressed for Nottingham ForestCredit: Alamy
Ruben Amorim heaped praise on the England starCredit: Reuters
Anderson is one Nottingham Forest player who would undoubtedly enhance United and he imposed himself impressively at the City Ground.
Casemiro got his second goal in as many games but that United would even entertain the prospect of extending his contract whilst overlooking Anderson would be a throwback to the Ed Woodward era (or error).
Anderson got the ball rolling for Forest by dribbling his way out of trouble in the fifth minute and playing a piercing pass into the United third.
That put Forest on the front foot in a game where Amorim speculated they might stand off United. Anderson’s positive piece of play drew the first rousing round of applause from Sean Dyche of the afternoon.
‘VERY HARD’
Scholes’ daughter’s emotional post after he opens up on caring for autistic son
Welcome offer
Get a £50 welcome bonus when you join Sun Vegas and spend £10
Dyche put his hands together so often he could have been mistaken for a cheerleader.
The Forest boss said: “I said after the Porto game he’s got to learn the nuts and bolts positionally but he’s a very good player.
“He deals with the ball well, he’s got a really good action. He’s got a nice nature about him.
“He moans a lot. I’ve already slaughtered him but I will get that out of him. But he moans in a good way.
BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS
“He’s a really good player and like I say, learning as he goes about the Premier League, positional, you know, like I say the nuts and bolts of it.
“But he’s a very good player.”
Anderson is only 22 and comparing a would-be England starter at the World Cup with one of the national team’s most esteemed midfielders can be dicey.
But Anderson exhibited the talent and tenacity of Steven Gerrard against United. He was fouled three times, a compliment in itself.
Anderson’s raking pass to the right-hand side enabled Forest to engineer the space for Ryan Yates to cross for Morgan Gibbs-White to equalise in the 48th minute.
Anderson won the majority of his ground duels, played three key passes and ended the afternoon with a 74 per cent passing accuracy.
Intriguingly, Anderson’s average position was slap bang on the halfway line as he managed the desired balance between defence and attack.
United could be in need of up to two, or three, midfielders next year.
Casemiro is expected to be released, Bruno Fernandes indicated he could have a decision to make after the World Cup and Kobbie Mainoo was an unused substitute for the third time this season at Forest.
Mainoo’s request to leave on loan in the final weeks of the summer transfer window was blocked but Amorim is not treating him like an asset.
The 21-year-old has not started a Premier League game since May 25 and his only start this season was in United’s generational nadir at Grimsby.
It was less than 18 months ago that Mainoo played his way into the England side for European Championship quarter and semi-finals, as well as the final.
It should sting United that none of their players have made Thomas Tuchel’s England squads this calendar year. Marcus Rashford, on loan at Barcelona and Aston Villa before then, hardly counts when his bridges with his parent club were burned nearly 12 months ago.
United could have representation in Luke Shaw, undoubtedly one of the best English centre halves this season and more than willing to resume left-back duties if called upon.
Mainoo won’t be on Tuchel’s list and Anderson seems poised to be in the team, never mind Tuchel’s squad, next to Declan Rice in America in the summer.
When United were in their pomp, Sir Alex Ferguson had a tendency to cherry-pick the best England player at a major tournament: Rio Ferdinand in 2002, Wayne Rooney in 2004 and Owen Hargreaves in 2006.
Anderson is not the only English midfielder of interest to United. Adam Wharton is a silkier and slighter option who is also operating in a 3-4-2-1 system for Oliver Glasner at Crystal Palace.
Wharton, like Anderson, has done a number on United’s midfield in home and away wins.
He will get his chance to remind United of his credentials at Selhurst Park at the end of this month.
But Anderson banished any lingering concerns that he is too forward-thinking to occupy a deep-lying role for one of the Premier League’s elite sides on Saturday.
COST CUTTER
John Lewis launches early Black Friday sale a MONTH early with up to £300 off
SPY STORY
Telltale clues CHEATERS use to spot you secretly reading their dodgy texts & pics
The priority for United ought to be an outright defensive midfielder next year and Anderson has more in his locker than that.
But Amorim may be talking about him again this season.
Adam Wharton is also on United’s radarCredit: Getty
