A year ago Elliot Anderson had never played as a deep-lying midfielder. Now he heads to the World Cup almost certain to start in the most important position in England’s team.
Gareth Southgate had always pinpointed that No 6 position as England’s weakness compared to successful nations: Andrea Pirlo, Toni Kroos and Xavi conducted play from the base of midfield, but Southgate never had a player to control games in such a way.
Anderson will be that player for Thomas Tuchel having stumbled into the role on the pitches of St George’s Park last summer.
Before the 2025 Under-21 European Championship, Lee Carsley’s squad were playing a practice match but Anderson was not getting on the ball. “I had a behind-closed-door match and I was playing in the left 10 [position] and as it happened I was sort of struggling to get on the ball,” Anderson said. “So he [Carsley] told me to drop deeper and get on the ball and start creating things and then it just felt so natural for me. I haven’t looked back.”
He describes it as learning on the job, but everything he has touched in a Three Lions shirt has turned to gold since. The Under-21s won the Euros in Slovakia, with Tuchel watching at Tehelné pole and speaking to Anderson in the dressing room afterwards, complimenting him on his partnership with Alex Scott. Anderson would make his senior England debut three months later:
At Nottingham Forest he has played mostly in the No 6 role before getting moved further up the pitch recently. They value him at more than £100m such is his progress over the last year. Manchester City are looking at him as they consider long-term successors to Rodri. Manchester United are also looking for midfielders in his mould.
To accelerate his learning, Anderson has been watching the great players in that deep-lying midfield position, with Sergio Busquets the one he has noted for his mobility and passing. “I’d watch him and he was ridiculous,” said Anderson. “There are the No 6s who are very static and move the ball really well. I see myself as quite a mobile No 6, I like to get around and on the ball and create things, so I’m trying to improve on that side.”
Tuchel has played Anderson in every match for the senior team since watching the Under-21 final. If he were to name a team now for the World Cup opener against Croatia on June 17, Anderson would be on the teamsheet. He was among the senior players such as Harry Kane to be given last week off before returning from his sunshine break in Marbella for the Tuesday evening friendly against Japan.
It was another sign of his standing in this squad. Anderson has answered the midfield question of “Declan Rice and who?” Rice is not playing against Japan but they have been working on their partnership, with Anderson allowing his partner to move forward freely.
“Since I’ve come in, he’s [Rice] made me feel comfortable, he’s helped me learn on the job,” said Anderson.
There have always been comparisons with Paul Gascoigne, with Anderson also playing for Wallsend Boys Club in Newcastle. Gazza also passed on his advice to Anderson when his nephew Cameron played in the same Newcastle academy team.
Gascoigne made a late push to get into the England squad for the 1990 World Cup where he captured the hearts of the country, making just eight appearances before the final pre-tournament warm-up matches. Anderson has fewer caps (six) at this stage of preparing for a major competition, and only started learning his role a year ago.
Anderson’s first firm memory of a World Cup was Kieran Trippier’s semi-final goal against Croatia eight years ago but he still feels the impact of Gazza despite being born 12 years after Italia 90. “He was an amazing player and such an important part of that World Cup,” Anderson said. “If I can get anywhere near that level I’d be happy.”
There is also a relegation battle that he is embroiled in for Forest, with their Europa League campaign meaning more matches than any other season of his career. He has installed a “red-light sauna” and a “hyperbaric” oxygen chamber to help his recovery from the workload.
“It’s been crazy,” Anderson says of his season. “It happened so quickly. I thought it wouldn’t have happened this quickly. I’ve always been pretty confident, within myself [but] maybe I didn’t think it might have happened so quickly.”
It was Carsley who spoke to Anderson when Scotland were trying to recruit him for their seniors. Then it was the Under-21s coach who discovered his best position by chance. It is one of the legacies of “Carsball” in the period between Southgate and Tuchel. It could have a glorious ending too.
Anderson was covered in beer when he watched that Trippier free-kick with his father in their local pub. Now he is hoping to spark the celebrations for fans back home this summer.