‘Disappointing,’ manager says of Newcastle United star’s injury while on international duty.

Elliot Anderson, a Newcastle United midfielder, was forced to withdraw from the Scotland squad.

Scotland manager Steve Clarke has expressed his disappointment at the injury to Newcastle United midfielder Elliot Anderson.

 

Clarke called up the 20-year-old for the first time for the Euro 2024 qualifier in Cyprus on Friday and the 150th anniversary fixture against England at Hampden next Tuesday, but he suffered an undisclosed injury in training on Tuesday.

Anderson has returned to Tyneside for treatment, and the Magpies want to have him available for Brentford’s visit to St James’ Park after the international break.

“It’s disappointing to lose Elliot and Liam [Kelly] on the same day, but that’s part and parcel of international football, you just deal with it,” Clarke said to reporters in Cyprus on Thursday evening.

 

 

“Because we couldn’t bring two goalkeepers, we had to replace Liam, so we brought in young Robby [McCrorie].” He’s been on the team previously and knows what it’s like.

 

“I didn’t have to replace Elliot because we have enough midfielders.”

With Anderson still waiting for his first senior cap, England could make a move for the former Bristol Rovers loanee. Anderson had previously represented Scotland at several youth levels before joining England at the under-19 level. He returned to the Scots’ under-21 squad.

“It’s not something I can control,” Clarke said. “There’s not a lot I can do about it.”

 

Despite finishing as the club’s leading goal scorer in preseason, the Whitley Bay-born midfielder has appeared as a substitute in all four of United’s opening Premier League games.