EDDIE HOWE is delighted with the midfield versatility Elliot Anderson has been displaying this season, but expects the youngster’s creative strengths to come to the fore as he continues through his career.

Anderson has emerged as an increasingly influential performer in the last few weeks, starting Newcastle United’s last three league games and also coming on as a substitute in the Champions League draw with AC Milan and Carabao Cup success over Manchester City.

In the early stages of his senior career, the 20-year-old was used primarily as a forward, and he played as part of a front three throughout his successful loan spell at Bristol Rovers two seasons ago.

However, since establishing himself as a first-team regular under Eddie Howe, he has found himself moved back into a midfield role. He has been playing as part of a midfield three this season, with his energy and drive dovetailing neatly with Newcastle’s aggressive, high-pressing playing style, but Howe does not feel that will always be his position within the side.

Anderson’s creative qualities are arguably his biggest asset, and as he becomes increasingly comfortable on the Premier League stage, so Howe thinks he will find himself playing higher up the pitch.

“He can definitely play as a ten, and he can definitely play as an eight,” said the Newcastle boss, ahead of tomorrow’s opening Champions League home game against Paris St Germain. “Whether he can play as a six right now, I’m not so sure at this moment in time.

“Maybe long term, that will change, but I think he would say that his biggest strengths are creativity, goals and assists. He’ll point to end product, and I think he’s got a really good attacking instinct.

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“I think when you first come into the team, you have to bring a bit of everything otherwise you won’t survive. I think he’s adapted really well to bringing all the off-the-ball things that you need in the Premier League. He’s got that physical strength now, and I think long term, he will show his other qualities. I’ve got no doubt about that.”

For now, though, Howe is happy to continue stationing Anderson at the heart of midfield, with the absence of both Joe Willock and Joelinton accentuating the North-Easterner’s importance.

Last season, Anderson was mainly used as a substitute, although he began to force his way into the starting line-up towards the end of the campaign.

He focused on building himself up physically during the summer, and Howe feels he is now reaping the rewards for being much more robust and durable than was previously the case.

“Physically, he’s definitely developed,” continued Howe. “I think he’s become more robust. He picked up a lot of niggly hamstring and thigh injuries last year which really set him back. They didn’t really turn out to be too serious in the end, any of them, but he was out for one week or two weeks here and there. Now, he looks really strong.”

He has also matured in terms of his performance levels on the pitch, with the experience he gained last season clearly enabling him to feel much more comfortable on the Premier League stage.

Whereas Anderson, who is set to swap international allegiances and represent England rather than Scotland, would previously play in snatches, he is now able to influence a game over the full 90 minutes. Howe clearly feels he can trust him to deliver a reliable performance level, hence his place in the starting line-up against Burnley last weekend ahead of Newcastle’s record signing, Sandro Tonali.

“I think he’s added a bit more knowhow to his game,” said Howe. “It’s very difficult for young players to come in and know how to act in every moment of the match, depending on whether you’re on top or not on top. Through training and the experiences that he’s faced with us on a matchday, I think he’s added a little bit more knowhow to the obvious talent that he has.

“He’s become reliable, and that’s a big thing for me. I feel like I can trust him to play, knowing that he won’t let us down in any phase. I think he can be really proud of his recent efforts.”