Bruce Anderson spent the latter half of the 2018/19 campaign out on loan at Dunfermline from Aberdeen. With the striker department at Pittodrie getting congested, does the Dons youngster have a chance of getting first team football this forthcoming season?
In fourteen Championship games for the Pars he managed five goals. Having fired them in for the Pars fairly regularly, Anderson’s loan spell can be considered a decent one.
Anderson was on loan at the Pars during the latter stages of 2018/19. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)
Is he ready for Premiership minutes though?
Anderson has to battle three established strikers at least
Personally I feel Aberdeen play better with someone alongside Sam Cosgrove. Whilst the Englishman is their main striker and does score the goals needed for Derek McInnes’ side, he does nothing else to contribute to the team.
Having someone alongside him may bring him into the game a bit more. Whether that player is Anderson is another question.
He also featured sporadically for the Dons. (photo by David Young/Action Plus via Getty Images)
It looks as if Aberdeen will be playing with a single target man again next season though. The signing of Curtis Main shows the type of striker McInnes wants at the club. He’d like a physical forward who wins headers and can flick them beyond the defence for advancing wingers.
Stevie May and Main can do that, albeit it’s questionable how well they do it. They certainly don’t deliver much in front of goal, scoring just five Premiership goals between them last year.
Anderson could provide something different. He is your typical poacher, deadly from anywhere inside the box. He can also do a decent bit of pressing work on the opposition backline.
Anderson needs minutes. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Is he ready for the first team though? He still looked raw whilst on loan at East End Park. The chances of him pushing May or Main out of the side is minimal.
Another loan spell in the Championship with a team like Ayr United or Inverness CT would work for him. They could both do with a bit of firepower, plus it gives Anderson more first team minutes.
Is 2019/20 the season where Anderson cements himself at Pittodrie? I don’t think so. Instead of making cameo appearances for the Dons, Anderson should get himself some regular game time in the Championship.