'He passed the test' - Thomas Tuchel singles out one England star for praise after uninspiring win over Andorra

The Nottingham Forest midfielder, just 22, delivered a performance full of confidence, guile, and energy in what proved to be a tricky World Cup qualifier at Villa Park. He showed maturity beyond his years, repeatedly finding clever pockets of space and using possession with intelligence. His best moment came in the second half when he came agonisingly close to capping his debut with a goal, only to be denied by a spectacular stop.

After the match, Tuchel didn’t hold back in his praise for Anderson. 

“He’s just a very, very good football player,” Tuchel said. “He has the physicality, he’s very mobile at No 6. He has the body, he loves to defend, he loves to put his body inside to duels. He loves passing, he loves to break the lines, he’s very mobile in this game. It was a pleasure to see.

“I think the team around him made it as easy as possible for him and he had a very strong performance. I think he showed today that he adapts to the situation. Can he show what he showed in training? Can he show what he showed with Nottingham and the under-21s? He played with a lot of freedom. He was very quickly in the flow."

Tuchel made it clear that the Andorra match was more than just a qualifier; it was a litmus test for Anderson’s readiness. Asked whether the 22-year-old had done enough to keep his place, Tuchel replied: “That was the test – and I think he passed the test. There is no reason why he can’t play in Serbia if we decide to have that position for him, he is ready to go.”

While Andorra were resilient, Tuesday’s clash with Serbia, away from home, represents a significant step up in difficulty. For Anderson, the stage could not be bigger. After passing his first audition with flying colours, the Forest star now has the opportunity to cement himself as one of Tuchel’s trusted men in a squad bursting with competition.