During his debut season at the City Ground, as well as during his Newcastle career, Anderson had played as an attacking No.8 or even a No.10, tasked with creating chances in forward areas while using his energy to help in defence. Ahead of the 2025-26 campaign, however, Forest were eager to use Anderson in deeper lying areas - if only to free up space for the more advanced Morgan Gibbs-White.
It's a role the 23-year-old embraced. No player had more touches in the Premier League last term, or won more duels; in fact, no one really came close to Anderson's 289 across his 38 appearances. Forest were, statistically, the best tackling team in the league, and Anderson was central to that effort. His 2,080 completed passes were more than any midfielder, besting Bernardo Silva, Dominik Szoboszlai and Rice to that honour, while only Everton's James Garner covered more distance than Anderson's 411 kilometres.
This is a stats economy, and Anderson checks all of the boxes. He knows it, too.
“I feel like I’ve sort of nailed a position. I know I did it last season, but I have found myself really comfortable in centre-mid, No.6, No.8,” he toldtheGuardian in April.