Elliot Anderson is expected to add to his four England caps against Serbia and Albania this week
Brian Dick Reach Football Correspondent
13:39, 11 Nov 2025
Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson in England training
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Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson in England training(Image: PA)
Elliot Anderson - and not Jude Bellingham - has settled the debate about Real Madrid star's role in the England team.
That's according to former Three Lions defender Jamie Carragher who believes the Nottingham Forest man is not only the 'complete midfielder' but one of top at the position in the division.
That comes as Anderson made his 35th consecutive Premier League start in the 3-1 win over Leeds United, in which he converted a late penalty to make an important three points safe.
It also comes as the 23-year-old is ranked top in statistics like touches, forward passes, line breaking passes, successful dribbles and possession won.
And as Anderson prepares to continue in Thomas Tuchel's engine-room, the former Liverpool centre back reckons he has forced Tuchel to play Bellingham in a more advanced role.
"We're talking about now one of the best midfield players in the Premier League," Carragher told Sky Sports.
"We were told about Elliot Anderson, it feels like for years at Newcastle that they had someone really special coming through.
"Obviously we know the PSR issues at the club meant Nottingham Forest have acquired him.
"You think of the England team as well, which is where he'll be going...we all used to have this debate, is Jude Bellingham a number 10 or a central midfield player?
"He has to be a number 10 now, because Elliot Anderson has got that role alongside, Declan Rice, and you can see exactly why....and if he plays any better, he might be off the charts.
"Listen, we've got some absolutely sensational midfield players, in the Premier League now from all over the world, but when you actually look at the numbers, that's absolutely fantastic.
"And no disrespect to Nottingham Forest, but when you actually think of the teams and possession wise as well, how many chances do these midfield players have to play those line-breaking passes.
"He'd probably have more opportunities with a team who was a little bit more possession based.
"So, as I said, that's absolutely fantastic, he's not just a player who gets on the ball and plays, he's a complete midfield player.
"I can't help but think people at Newcastle must be thinking 'Oh, why was he the one that we let go?'
"You look at the size of him, he's not the sort of most physically imposing of midfield players, but he still does that work as we've seen with breaking up play.
"But the big thing that stands out is his ability on the ball and his passing.
"In terms of playing forward, how often do we say about midfield players, 'They're always looking square, they're going back too often. Go forward, get the ball into your attacking players'. That's exactly what he does."
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