Elliot Anderson, the 22-year-old Nottingham Forest midfielder, is embracing a fresh chapter in his international career after committing his future to England. Born in Whitley Bay, Anderson was eligible to play for Scotland through his grandmother and initially accepted a call-up to the Scottish national team in August 2023. He was named in the squad for the Euro 2024 qualifier against Cyprus and a friendly against England. However, he withdrew from the squad, citing an injury, and later decided to represent his country of birth.

Anderson's decision came after a period of reflection. "I went away with the Scotland team, and I left camp after a few days and decided I just needed more time to make my decision really," he explained. "I didn't want to dive into anything, so I'm really thankful I've done that now". He had represented Scotland at the youth level, from Under-16s to Under-21s. Despite this, Anderson identifies strongly as English. "I'm definitely English," he affirms. "That's where I see myself". He admits that the lack of England call-ups during his younger years led him to initially consider the opportunity with Scotland. "It's just I hadn't really been called up to England throughout the ages when I was younger, so I thought I'd take the opportunity to play," Anderson said. "Then, once I got that belief that I thought I was good enough to play for England, it hit me, and I focused on England".

Anderson's commanding performances for Nottingham Forest serve as a reminder of his talent. His sale from Newcastle for a reported £35 million in 2024 enabled the club to avoid issues with Premier League profitability and sustainability rules. The departure of the local player, who had trained with Paul Gascoigne, was difficult for many.

Now, having been part of the England Under-21s squad that triumphed in the European Championships, Anderson is setting his sights on his first senior cap. He is hoping to make his debut in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia. "Definitely English" Anderson relishes the opportunity to represent his nation and embark on this new chapter in his career.