Tranmere v Newcastle predictions: Teenage talent Anderson set to shine

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Tranmere Rovers v Newcastle United in the EFL Cup second-round on Wednesday.

Where to watch

Live on Sky Sports Main Event & Football, 7.45pm Wednesday

Best bet

Elliot Anderson to score at any time
1pt 21-10 bet365, Betfair & Paddy Power

Team news

Tranmere
Tom Davies, Kieron Morris and Charlie Jolley all remain sidelined and Joel Mumbongo must be assessed.

Newcastle
Dan Burn, Callum Wilson and Ryan Fraser have picked up knocks and are set to miss out while Jonjo Shelvey, Federico Fernandez and and Jamal Lewis also remain sidelined. Matt Targett is a doubt.

Match preview

Three days on from sharing the spoils in a six-goal thriller at home to Premier League heavyweights Manchester City, Newcastle are back in front of the Sky Sports cameras, this time on their travels preparing to take on League Two outfit Tranmere in the EFL Cup.

However, any hopes of a second-round upset look slim as the Magpies have made an unbeaten start to the Premier League campaign, taking five points from three games, and manager Eddie Howe is determined to maintain that feelgood factor.

Dan Burn and Callum Wilson are out injured and changes are expected, but Howe insists mentality is important and has made it no secret that they are eyeing a cup run.

Several first-team members will be handed an opportunity to showcase what they are capable of and one player who could profit from Howe's trust is teenage talent Elliot Anderson.

The 19-year-old thrived while on loan in League Two with Bristol Rovers last season, scoring seven goals in 21 starts, and this looks the ideal opportunity for him to be handed a starting berth.

One of those strikes came in a 1-1 draw against Tranmere at Prenton Park in April and at 21-10 the attack-minded midfielder makes plenty of appeal to make his mark in Merseyside again.

Howe has chosen to keep Anderson at St. James' Park rather than send him back out on loan and he has been involved in all three of Newcastle's Premier League matchday squads, so should finally get his chance to shine.

Rovers have won only one of their opening five games in League Two and they came through on penalties after a 2-2 draw at Accrington in round one, suggesting Newcastle should get plenty of chances to rack up their goalscoring tally.

Key stat

Four of Tranmere's six competitive games this season have featured three or more goals.

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