Former Newcastle United star Elliot Anderson quit the Scotland camp in 2023 to pave the way for his England debut – but only after a bruising encounter with ex-Celtic star
Elliot Anderson on international duty with Scotland
England star Elliot Anderson quit Scotland after a tasty tackle from veteran ex-Celtic star Stuart Armstrong left him reeling – according to his former coach John Carver.
Former Scotland assistant manager Carver has recalled the moment in which he knew that the Three Lions were set to benefit from the Geordie boy’s services.
The incident unfolded when then Newcastle United youngster Anderson was called up for a Euro 2024 against Cyprus which would have prevented him playing for England ever again.
Carver told Chronicle Live exclusively: “We were just having a small-sided game and Elliot clashed with Stuart Armstrong.
“I was refereeing the game and after it I thought: ‘That was a strange reaction!’
“I could tell he was uncomfortable, but didn’t know if it was about the environment or whether he’d just been kicked.
“When the game was finished, I went over to him and he was already walking towards me and he said: ‘John, can I have a word?’
“I could feel he was uncomfortable, possibly because he was English.
“I told him to speak to Steve Clarke as it was all about what he wanted as a young player. And that was it, he was on his way back down the road.
“It is always down to the player and how he feels. It never affected me, I was English and working for Scotland but he had his future ahead of him.
“It was different for me but at the end of the day Scotland lost a top player that day.”
John Carver(Image: PA)
Anderson is in line for his second cap for England against Serbia in a World Cup qualifier in Belgrade, but Carver admits that Gareth Southgate’s dilly-dallying could have cost the English FA at one stage.
Carver, now manager of Lechia Gdansk in Poland, said: “It hasn’t been mentioned a lot this week, but the Scottish FA brought him from Under-16 to Under-21 and it went very quiet on the English front even when Ell broke into Eddie Howe’s team.
“But we knew he was going to be a star, and that’s why he became so close to the die being cast with Scotland. England weren’t moving on him and almost missed out.
“When he was with the Scottish Under-21s I brought him out the dressing room and introduced him to Steve Clarke.
“So we had the discussions on what could be then in pre-season 2022, he broke into Newcastle’s team under Eddie Howe in Austria and could see he’d gone from a boy to a man.
“Then in 2023, I could see again that there was a huge difference in his physicality, and he was the player of the tournament at the US Premier League Summer Series.
“I told Steve Clarke and told him: ‘He’s ready now’.
“I kept pushing, and he was in the squad for the Cyprus game in a Euro 2024 qualifier with England coming up a few days later at Hampden Park.
“I was so pleased for Elliot because he is a local Newcastle lad to make his debut for England. He was the star of the show on his debut.
“It was a mature, graceful performance and he was in control what he was doing.”
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