Nicky Butt says Anthony Elanga is a very different player at Newcastle United than he was at Manchester United.
The Sweden international was exceptional during Newcastle’s win over Union Saint-Gilloise in the Champions League, playing a key role in the Magpies’ victory in Brussels.
He won the first penalty of the night thanks to his speed, with Elanga receiving the player of the match award for what was a blistering performance.
The 23-year-old was a constant threat on the right, with USG unable to handle his pace. On another night he would have created more goals, such was the quality of his crossing.
That is something that Elanga has clearly worked on, with Nicky Butt spotting a key difference to his game after previously working with him at Manchester United.
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Nicky Butt says Anthony Elanga has ‘matured’
Butt spent nine years as a coach at Manchester United, where he saw Elanga develop from promising young star to senior player.
He then kicked on even further at Nottingham Forest, which inspired Newcastle United to spend £55million on him this summer.
Elanga had his best Newcastle game in the win over USG, and Butt said on BBC’s Champions League highlights on Wednesday night that the winger is suddenly a much more mature player.
“Fantastic young footballer,” he said.
“Very pacey, but always struggled with the final bit of the game – the creativity, the crosses, the goals. Now he has got to a level, getting into the area and taking people on, putting some amazing balls into the box.
“I think he has matured over the last 18 months with the final little bit and got to know his game. Instead of being 100mph, he’s slowing himself down and getting in the right decisions, concentrating on that final ball.”
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Elanga was relentless on the right of attack for Newcastle. He showed a burning desire to stretch the USG defence and get into dangerous positions, putting multiple brilliant crosses into the box.
That was noted by Butt, who praised the Magpies’ number 20 for his direct approach.
Butt added: “One thing I really like about him is he’s direct. All his career he has been direct. He knows what he wants to do. He wants to take his man on and create chances.
“The amount of good balls he put in tonight, it was a shame they didn’t get a goal off one of them.”
Elanga technically got his first Newcastle assist on Wednesday night, winning the first penalty that Anthony Gordon converted in the first half.
However, there were various other opportunities for him to create. Sadly, his wonderful deliveries were not converted by his teammates.
But that will come in time. Newcastle’s front three were really dangerous against USG, with Elanga proving he has the tools to shine next to Nick Woltemade and Gordon.
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