Elliot Anderson makes timely recovery at Newcastle United as Steve Bruce assesses options

Relegation-threatened Newcastle United lost Allan Saint-Maximin and Miguel Almiron to injuries at the weekend – and the influential pair will be sidelined for the rest of the month.

Anderson, a natural No.10, is one of the contenders to replace Almiron in the starting XI, having made his first-team debut early this year.

The 18-year-old, promoted to the senior squad by head coach Bruce early in the season, was not on the bench at the weekend – and he didn’t play for the Under-23s against Reading yesterday. However, the midfielder has recovered from an ankle knock suffered in a previous Premier League 2 game, and is expected to be available for Sunday’s visit to The Hawthorns.

Anderson – who has made two substitute’s appearances so far this season – signed a new long-term deal at United in November.