A football match is more than just a contest between two teams; it’s often a reunion of familiar faces and a reminder of paths taken and not taken.
When Nottingham Forest visited St. James’ Park on Sunday, the occasion was marked by the return of three former Newcastle United players.
Each of them had a very different story to tell about their time on Tyneside, and their presence on the pitch sparked a mixture of memories and, for one player in particular, a deep sense of what might have been.
The first of the returning trio was goalkeeper Matz Sels. He arrived in the summer of 2016 as the first signing of the newly appointed permanent manager, Rafa Benitez.
There was hope and expectation, but for Sels, his time at Newcastle never quite took off. He struggled to establish himself as the undisputed number one, making only 14 appearances before moving on.
He has since rebuilt his career impressively on the continent and earned a return to the Premier League with Forest, but his stint at Newcastle remains a brief, unfulfilled chapter.
Then there was striker Chris Wood. His story is tied to a specific and stressful period in the club’s modern history.
He was signed in the January 2022 transfer window, a time when the new ownership was desperately trying to strengthen the squad to pull the team out of a relegation battle.
Wood was a proven Premier League goal scorer, but his time at Newcastle never truly ignited. He managed only five goals in 39 appearances, and his loan move to Forest, which later became permanent, felt like a natural conclusion for a player who didn’t quite fit the long-term vision under Eddie Howe.
But the third returning player was different. His story is not one of unfulfilled potential or a simple misfit. The story of Elliot Anderson is one of genuine heartbreak for the Newcastle United faithful.
Anderson wasn’t a purchased player; he was one of their own. A local lad from Whitley Bay who had risen through the club’s famed academy, he was the embodiment of the club’s connection to its community.
He was a player who understood what the shirt meant because he had grown up dreaming of wearing it.
His sale to Nottingham Forest last summer was not a footballing decision; it was a financial one. The club was backed into a corner by the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Regulations (PSR).
To avoid a potentially devastating points deduction, the club’s hierarchy was forced to raise a significant amount of money quickly through player sales. While there was tentative interest in bigger stars, the club made the agonizing choice to sell Anderson.
It was a move that caused “major pain,” as the club sacrificed a piece of its future to meet an immediate accounting requirement.
The true sting of that decision has only grown sharper with time. Since his move, Anderson has flourished.
He has become a central figure for a Forest team that qualified for Europe, and his performances have been so impressive that he earned his first call-up to the senior England squad.
He is no longer just a promising academy graduate; he is a full international and a key player for a Premier League rival.
Speaking before the match, pundit Jamie Carragher perfectly captured the sentiment, calling Anderson “the one that got away.”
He suggested that Newcastle might have been better off considering the sale of a more established star in order to keep Anderson and integrate him as a regular starter.
The painful truth is that Newcastle didn’t just sell a player; they sold a local hero at a discount, and they are now watching him thrive elsewhere.
Manager Eddie Howe’s pre-match comments on Friday were filled with a palpable sense of regret. He was brutally honest, admitting that everyone at the club knew they were selling Anderson for a price far below his true value.
He described it as a “rushed deal” and stated plainly that the club had “no choice.” They were not in a strong negotiating position; it was a fire sale to avoid punishment. The club’s hand was forced, and a player who represented the heart and soul of the club was the casualty.
Watching Elliot Anderson line up against his boyhood club was a poignant moment for everyone connected with Newcastle United. It was a vivid, in-person reminder of the difficult compromises modern football forces upon even the biggest clubs.
For Matz Sels and Chris Wood, the return was a footnote. For Elliot Anderson, it was a symbol of a painful sacrifice, a “what if” scenario that will linger long after the final whistle.
