Toffees legend believes Anelka still has Premier League quality
Published:
Nicolas Anelka’s spell at West Brom may have ended in controversial circumstances but Peter Reid believes the veteran striker could still do a job in the Premier League.
The 35-year-old Frenchman is currently without a club and had been linked with a return to the English top-flight in recent weeks.
Reid coached the former Arsenal and Chelsea forward during a stint in charge of Indian Super League side Mumbai City, where he scored two goals in three league outings, and spoke highly of him during an exclusive interview at Ladbrokes’ #ForTheFans transfer deadline day event.
“I’d read stories about him but when he trained he was fantastic and he was a great personality to have around,” the former Sunderland and Leeds United manager explained.
“If I was around the lower echelons of the Premier League, I would take a chance on him. If you are asking for someone to get you a goal, I think he could still do it.”
Reid had previously met up with the Frenchman during his time under Sam Allardyce at Bolton and found the player to be a far cry from the character portrayed previously in the press, with some reporters dubbing the striker ‘Le Sulk’ back in his pomp.
Earlier this week the Football Association confirmed that the veteran striker is free to join another club in England again.
The announcement comes after Anelka completed a mandatory education course, alongside a five-game ban, following his controversial quenelle goal celebration for the Baggies.
Anelka has enjoyed a nomadic career with spells in France, Turkey, China, Italy and of course India to his name.
He’s also played for six different Premier League sides, winning titles with Arsenal and Chelsea, and captured the Golden Boot in the 2008-09 campaign with the Blues as the top scorer in the English top-flight.
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