Elliot Anderson says he was 'happy' after leaving Newcastle United to join Nottingham Forest
Boyhood Newcastle United fan and academy graduate Elliot Anderson was sold by Newcastle United two years ago as the club was backed into a corner.
Newcastle were at risk of breaching Profit and Sustainability Rules and in a last-ditch bid to avoid a points deduction, the club sold Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh for a combined £65 million.
Nobody at the club wanted to lose either player, but the sale of Elliot Anderson is the one that stung the most for both sides. Eddie Howe has spoken several times about not wanting to lose the talented midfielder.
Since he left the club, Anderson has become a first-team regular at Nottingham Forest and has broken into Thomas Tuchel's England team where he's caught the eye of several big clubs.
Elliot Anderson's focus is on doing his best for Nottingham Forest not where he may be playing next season
There has been a lot of talk about Newcastle trying to bring Anderson back, while Manchester United remain consistently linked with a move for the 23-year-old, but for now Anderson is just focused on his task at Nottingham Forest as he told reporters ahead of their Europa League clash with Fenerbahce.
"I'm just focusing on my football at the moment and performing and trying to give everything for Nottingham Forest, really.
"So that's all that's on my mind. It's been a big two years. I think I've done pretty well, to be honest, in the time I've been here, on and off the pitch.
"I think I've matured as a person as well. Thanks to the club, really, for giving me that platform, going out there and playing and letting me do my stuff."
Anderson isn't looking back and wondering 'what if'
Had Anderson stayed at Newcastle, we wonder if he'd have hit the heights he has by now, as breaking into the Magpies' midfield would have been a lot harder than it was at Forest, and with that in mind, it's not surprising to see that things have worked out so well for the youngster. He has even admitted as much himself.
"Obviously, in players' careers, you never know where you're going to be. Moving from your hometown is a big step in your career.
"And it was definitely something that I needed to do and it has turned out really well. So I was happy I made that step."
