Elliot Anderson has to be picked for England at the 2026 World Cup ahead of Jordan Henderson – his versatility is unrivalled.
That’s the view of talkSPORT host Max Scott, who has waxed lyrical over the Nottingham Forest midfielder, who helped England retain the European Under-21 Championship.
Anderson enjoyed a stunning opening 2024/25 season at the City GroundGetty Gettyhe then helped the Young Lions win the European U21 Championship[/caption]The all-action 22-year-old slotted into Lee Carsley‘s side as the Young Lions became back-to-back champions.
England senior boss Thomas Tuchel has discussed Anderson in the past, but he is yet to call him up to the senior squad.
However, with less than a year to go until the World Cup starts, Scott, a diehard Forest fan, would like to see Anderson in the team over Jordan Henderson.
The Liverpool legend has earned a recall to Tuchel’s team despite not playing in the Premier League anymore.
Ahead of the new season, Henderson has been linked with a return to the top-flight, but a move is yet to materialise.
And believing his best days are behind him, Scott is desperate for Anderson to get a chance over the 2019 Champions League winner.
Speaking on the Sunday Session, he said: “As a Forest fan, Elliot Anderson, the Geordie Maradona, needs to be in the England squad.
“As a football observer, Elliot Anderson needs to be in that World Cup squad because he can play six, eight and ten.”
Co-host Scott Minto, who won the FA Cup with Chelsea in 1997, then asked who Anderson should replace.
To which Scott replied: “Jordan Henderson, without a shadow of a doubt.
Tuchel revealed in his exclusive interview with talkSPORT that Henderson remains a key playerGetty“If Jordan Henderson is such a standard-setter, which I believe he is, if he is so integral, get him in as a coach.
“Don’t waste a space when you have talent like Anderson and [Adam] Wharton.
“I don’t think youth and experience are completely separate things, and with the experience of winning the Under-21s Euros and getting Forest to Europe for the first time in 30 years, I think players can deal with that pressure.
“So, I don’t think it’s a choice between experience and youth – you need to have a blend, and I am disappointed in the disconnect between Lee Carsley blooding in these young champions and then Thomas Tuchel going for a 35-year-old, who has played his last couple of years in Saudi Arabia and the Eredivise.”
But from England’s current U21 heroes, Minto can see only one player being part of Tuchel’s side next year.
He remarked: “I am not saying that Anderson or Wharton shouldn’t be part of the squad, but I don’t think they will be.
Anderson chipped in with eight goal contributions in the recent season“Tino Livramento has a chance for sure.
“Harvey Elliott was the Player of the Tournament, but do we think Thomas Tuchel will put him in the side?”
But despite the calls for Anderson to get in the team, if he is going to make the World Cup squad, it is unlikely to be in place of Henderson.
That is because Tuchel considers him to be a vital squad player.
Speaking exclusively to talkSPORT in early June, Tuchel said: “We were convinced about this move to bring him back.
“And since I met him in person and since I saw him and observed him in camp, I am more convinced than ever that he is a very important addition to this group.
“Especially when we talk about connections, especially when we talk about setting standards and keeping the group up to the standards.
“He is at the moment the man that I don’t want to miss the value of having people within your camp that do set those standards.
“He is still lean, he is still fit.
“He is still ready to push on a level that matches international level. I am convinced he is still ambitious.
“He pushes the group, he takes care of training, he takes care of the attitude, he brings actually players together.
“So we see different better versions of players when Jordan is in camp than if he is not in camp, and that is all I can say.”
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( ‘Without a doubt’ – talkSPORT host calls for unheralded England U21 hero to go to World Cup ahead of Jordan Henderson )
Also on site :