West Brom: Bruce needs Elliot Anderson

Having suffered relegation to the Championship last season, West Brom supporters would have expected their team to bounce straight back up, or at least go close to doing so.

That has not been the case, however, with the Baggies missing the play-off places by eight points, a gap which could have been breached as a consequence of them scoring more goals this season.

With just 52 goals scored across the entire 46-game season, West Brom ended up as the sixth-lowest scorers in the league. That will surely annoy Steve Bruce, who took over as manager from Valerien Ismael in February.

The Baggies need to find goals from somewhere else other than their top scorer Karlan Grant. and a perfect solution to that problem could come in the form of Newcastle United loanee Elliot Anderson.

Should West Brom sign Elliot Anderson?

The 19-year-old, who has spent half of the season on loan at Joey Barton’s Bristol Rovers, has grasped the opportunity with both hands; and among his 13 goal contributions (eight goals and five assists) in 21 games, he delivered the all-important final goal to add to his two assists in their majestic 7-0 rout of Scunthorpe United, which sealed an unlikely automatic promotion to League One at the weekend.

On the chalkboard

Having been linked with Coventry City, Reading and Stoke City, it is West Brom who arguably need him the most.

Bruce would agree, having stated that his side are in need of signings for next season when he said (via Birmingham Mail): “I think we need as many as five or six [signings] – a major overhaul is needed… The supporters need a new face or two who they can get right behind.”

Dubbed a “generational” talent by some Newcastle supporters, Anderson offers a much more esteemed service compared to that of Adam Reach, who has just four attacking returns in the form of two goals and two assists in 34 Championship appearances this season.

Occupying the same level of versatility, with the ability to play out on the wing and through the centre, Anderson is much more clinical, presents a greater threat with 13 goals and assists from 21 matches and would bring energy to a team which is in need of youthful presence.

The signing of a prospect rated at around £180k by Transfermarkt could bolster the Baggies’ goal threat considerably and his versatility would allow him to function in either of Bruce’s 3-5-2 or 4-4-2 systems.

In other news: Bruce can finally axe 27 y/o liability as WBA eye bid for £3m-rated “difference maker”