Elliot Anderson is leading the way at Newcastle United – here's why

And the midfielder – who made his Premier League debut in January after being promoted to the senior squad by head coach Steve Bruce – led by example on Sunday when he captained the club’s Under-18s to a 3-2 FA Youth Cup win over Watford.

Anderson scored a stunning extra-time winner for Neil Winskill’s side with a penalty shootout looming at St James’s Park to book the club a place in the competition’s quarter-finals.

The 18-year-old has asked to play in every round this season, and Winskill has labelled him as a “role model” to the club’s young players.

"He's been with the group three times now to play in the competition, and trained in the days leading up to the games as well," said Winskill.

"One ethos of our club is to create good people and good players, and he totally encapsulates that.

“He's fitted straight back in with the group, he's led by example, worked hard in training and done everything in the games. He's never wanted any special treatment. There's been no fuss around him – he's just turned up and done the job.

"And (against Watford), when you need your captain to lead by example, he did exactly that with a fantastic goal.

"The staff will be really satisfied to know that we've got a player like that coming through the system. He's a role model for all of the players at the Academy."

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