Eddie Howe’s favorite crucial player for Newcastle United has made a significant decision about his future.

Prior to this month’s games against Cyprus and England, Elliot Anderson received his first call-up to the senior Scotland national team.
The 20-year-old academy product from Newcastle has earned caps for both Scotland and England at the youth level but has chosen to play for the latter at the senior level. Anderson might make his debut against England at Hampden Park on September 12 or against Cyprus in the Euro 2024 qualification on September 8.

Although Anderson was born in England, his paternal grandmother, who is from Glasgow, qualifies him to represent Scotland. The teenage midfielder had a strong preseason but is still waiting for his first Magpies start despite being a frequent substitute in Eddie Howe’s lineup.
As he prepares to make his senior Scotland debut next week, Anderson has made a total of 32 first-team appearances for Newcastle.

Anderson has represented England at the Under-19 level in the past, and it was reported that the English Football Association was trying to entice the Newcastle midfielder back into their young program.
In the ‘tug-of-war’ over his national allegiance, Anderson chose to concentrate on his first-team responsibilities with Newcastle, which helped the team finish in the top four the previous season.

Even so, Anderson’s selection for the Scotland senior team would not prevent him from playing for England if he so choose, but there would be a number of complications to take into account.

If Anderson makes no more than three competitive appearances for Scotland before the age of 21, doesn’t represent Scotland at a major tournament, and at least three years have gone since his last Scotland appearance, he would still be eligible to play for England in the future.