Newcastle United will face Nottingham Forest on May 10.
This is due to the match being selected for live broadcast on Sky Sports. As a result, the fixture has been moved from taking place at the City Ground on Saturday, May 9 at 3pm BST to Sunday, May 10 with a kick-off at 2pm.
It could prove to be a crucial fixture for both clubs as Forest fight to stay in the Premier League while Newcastle will be looking to salvage their season, having dropped to 12th in the table with seven games to go.
Newcastle have won every game at the City Ground since Forest’s return to the Premier League and also won the reverse fixture 2-0 at St James’ Park thanks to goals from Bruno Guimaraes and Nick Woltemade.
Elliot Anderson reunion
The match could prove to be the last time Elliot Anderson faces his former club as a Forest player, given the speculation surrounding the midfielder.
Newcastle sold Anderson to Forest for £35million in 2024 to avoid PSR punishment and the Geordie has since gone on to establish himself as a key player at the City Ground while also breaking into the England squad.
It will be the fifth time Anderson has faced Newcastle since he was sold to Forest. He has lost his four encounters with his former club so far.
He started the 2-0 defeat earlier this season and the 4-3 defeat at St James’ Park last season and came off the bench in a 3-1 defeat for Forest at the City Ground last season. He also started Forest’s penalty shootout defeat to Newcastle in the second round of the Carabao Cup.
Newcastle went on to win the competition and Anderson watched on from the stands as a supporter of the club.
Anderson has been strongly linked with a move to Manchester City this summer while Manchester United have also been credited with an interest. The Gazette understands Newcastle would be interested in bringing Anderson back to St James’ Park but accept that they would almost certainly be priced out of a move given they have no buy-back or sell-on clauses for the player.
So Man City and Man United will be monitoring Anderson closely while Newcastle of course will be keeping a close eye on the player head coach Eddie Howe has publicly stated he wants back at the club.
Eddie Howe on Elliot Anderson
On the prospect of Anderson returning to Newcastle, Howe said earlier this season: ““Certainly from my perspective I would love him too [return],” Howe said. “I’m very respectful of the fact he is at another football club and I would never normally talk about a player in that way, so, I won’t change that stance but…yeah.
“It is very regretful a player from the academy who had given so much and the club had given so much too, the coaching staff, all those years here and how people tried to develop those talents, for him not to be utilised here is a real shame.
“I wouldn't say it's on my mind every day, but there are certain reminders in certain moments.
“It didn't sit right with me then, doesn't sit right with me today that we as a football club were forced to make a decision that we didn't want to make and a player that had given everything to rise through the ranks here to try to play for Newcastle, that was ended by financial restrictions.
“But it's happened and we wish Elliot nothing but success. It's nothing at all to with him, it's to do with the restrictions we were under."
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