As England close in on sealing their place at the 2026 World Cup, Thomas Tuchel can thank Newcastle United for sorting one of his most troubled positions.
England take on Latvia on Tuesday night and will secure their spot at the 2026 World Cup with two games to spare if they are victorious in Riga.
Thomas Tuchel has endured some growing pains after taking over the England job at the start of the year, not least a friendly defeat to Senegal, but things are finally starting to click.
The Three Lions have looked lively and exciting in their last two outings, defeating Serbia 5-0 before smashing Wales 3-0.
The calibre of opposition may not have been high, but England are typically laboured against such teams, so it was refreshing to beat them so comfortably and confidently.
It’s perhaps no coincidence that Elliot Anderson started both matches and Tuchel should thank Newcastle United for selling the midfielder in 2024.
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Elliot Anderson is the answer to England’s midfield problem
Though it can be easy to get bogged down in pessimism, England truly have a sensational collection of players and should be among the favourites to win the World Cup in North America.
In captain Harry Kane, they have the best player in the world on current form, then a wealth of attacking talent behind him that should be the envy of most nations, as well as a settled defence that hardly ever concedes.
The only question that has beleaguered England in recent years is who should play in midfield alongside Declan Rice? Who is the perfect partner in the double pivot? Who can screen and protect the defence while also using the ball efficiently?
The answer was elusive for years. It was Jordan Henderson, it was Kalvin Phillips, it was Conor Gallagher, it was Kobbie Mainoo, yet none of them had real staying power.
Now the question appears to have finally been answered definitively in the form of Anderson. The Nottingham Forest midfielder has completely controlled all three of his England appearances so far, having been called up for the first time in September.
His performances internationally and for Nottingham Forest over the last 18 months have led to a lot of regret in Newcastle.
Eddie Howe has admitted selling for just £35m was a mistake and some Newcastle fans have called for the club to re-sign him and bemoaned the fact they sold him at all.
Newcastle were forced into the sale as they were on the verge of breaking PSR rules, and new sporting director Ross Wilson took full advantage to recruit him at Forest.
However, though Anderson’s talent was obvious at Newcastle, there’s little chance he’d have reached the heights he has at Forest so quickly if he stayed at St. James’ Park.
Anderson simply would not have been a regular starter at Newcastle, as they already have an extremely talented and well-oiled midfield trio of Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton, who remain excellent to this day.
Maybe Anderson would be able to dislodge Joelinton if he did return to Newcastle now, but he wasn’t going to do that a year ago if he stayed; instead, he’d have been the back-up option.
Lewis Miley is just as highly rated at Newcastle but can hardly get a look in, nor can Joe Willock.
So if Anderson remained in the North East, he wouldn’t have got the guaranteed starting spot he found at Forest, wouldn’t have proven how good he is and wouldn’t be in the England squad now.
Whether it be PSR or Newcastle’s decision-making, Tuchel has a lot to be thankful for.
What Thomas Tuchel has said about Elliot Anderson
Tuchel was full of praise for Anderson following his England debut against Andorra in September.
He said: “He’s just a very, very good football player.
“He has the physicality, he’s very mobile at No 6. He has the body, he loves to defend, he loves to put his body inside to duels. He loves passing, he loves to break the lines, he’s very mobile in this game. It was a pleasure to see.
“I think the team around him made it as easy as possible for him and he had a very strong performance”
He’s not the only one to praise Anderson, as his midfield partner Rice told ITV Sport:
“Exactly how he’s been doing for club, he was incredible for the whole of last season.
“He was incredible for the Under-21s during the summer too.
“This week he’s been outstanding and he’s a top player.”
Defender Reece James also said: “He is a phenomenal player. He fully deserves to be here, and he showed that with his performance today.
“I have played against him and I can see what he can do in the Premier League, the toughest league in the world. I thought his call-up would come sooner.”
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