Elliot Anderson could be given full Newcastle debut against Chelsea [Opinion]

Newcastle lock horns with Chelsea on Monday night and Steve Bruce has a selection headache in midfield. The Magpies will be without Jeff Hendrick after he was sent off in the 3-2 win over Southampton, but Bruce may replace him with youth over experience when looking at his recent team selections.

If Bruce wants a two-man midfield against Chelsea, Jonjo Shelvey and Isaac Hayden should get the nod. However, if he wants three players in the middle of the park, it might not be Sean or Matty Longstaff starting in Hendrick’s absence. Instead, young talent Elliot Anderson could get the nod.

The 18-year-old has risen through the youth ranks to the first team and made two appearances in all competitions at senior level. He has yet to start a game for Bruce but that could all change on Monday, particularly with the manager describing him as “a breath of fresh air” upon coming into the senior setup in recent weeks.

Sean Longstaff has been left out of the matchday squad since mid-January while his brother was omitted against Southampton; whereas Anderson has made the last three matchday squads, so he looks primed to get the nod.

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It would be a big call to throw Anderson in at the deep end on Monday, but it does look a strong possibility as he seems to have nudged ahead of the Longstaff brothers in the midfield pecking order.

There is a slim chance that Newcastle could instead go with two central midfielders and an attacking midfielder against Chelsea, which would mean Anderson misses out. The youngster may be worth getting his chance from the start at Stamford Bridge, though.