I Hope Elliot Anderson Receives a Good Reception at Nottingham Forest, Says Enzo Maresca

I Hope Elliot Anderson Receives a Good Reception at Nottingham Forest, Says Enzo Maresca Elliot Anderson is set to make an emotional return to the City Ground on Saturday. Anderson, who turns 24 today, joined City from Nottingham Forest in July for £116 million, in a deal that briefly broke the British transfer record after he had made 92 appearances across two seasons at the City Ground. The England international scored a late equaliser for Forest in a 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium in March, before becoming one of Enzo Maresca's first signings after the Italian took charge as the successor to Pep Guardiola in June. Anderson started in central midfield alongside Enzo Fernandez in Wednesday's 3-2 UEFA Champions League win at RB Leipzig, setting up Erling Haaland's 78th-minute winner before being replaced by Ayyoub Bouaddi seven minutes from time. Maresca: It's a big game for Elliot and for all of us Speaking at his press conference ahead of the trip to the City Ground, Maresca was asked about the significance of the fixture for Anderson and his £116 million price tag. "It's a big game for Elliot, but a big game for all of us - all the Premier League games are important," the Italian said. "And then in terms of how much you pay for a player, it's not the main thing. "At the end, they are human beings, they are players, and the important thing is that he's a very good player and helping us." Maresca was then quizzed on how the Forest supporters will receive Anderson on his first return to the City Ground. "I guess a good one because what he has done there has been important! The money he left there has been important! So I hope for him that he receives a good reception," the former Chelsea boss added. Anderson came through the academy at Newcastle United before joining Forest in July 2024, where he became a regular starter in midfield and earned his first senior England call-up under Thomas Tuchel in September 2025. The £116 million signing was his creative best in midweek, setting up Haaland for the all-important winner in a hard-fought win over RB Leipzig in Germany - a run and assist that has since seen Manchester City fans declare Anderson as Kevin De Bruyne's heir at the Etihad Stadium. Maresca was asked if Anderson could be used further forward on a consistent basis moving forward. "For me it's a matter of balance," the Manchester City manager added. "We have Elliot, Ayyoub [Bouaddi], Enzo [Fernandez], Rayan [Cherki], Phil [Foden] - this is our midfield players - Mateo Kovacic, also when he plays some games. "Just game by game, depending a little bit on the game plan to use different players. For me, in this moment, Elliot is playing more as a holding midfielder but in future, no doubt, he can play also a little bit more up front." On how much more Anderson can improve, Maresca said: "A lot! Because we started together four months ago and he can do many things better. He knows that! We had a nice conversation, I think before the last UCL game, with him about understanding the game and slowly, slowly he's getting better and better." Anderson scored his first goal for Manchester City in the 5-1 Champions League win over AEK Athens at the Etihad Stadium in October. The 24-year-old has partnered Fernandez in City's biggest games this season, including the defeats to Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa, whilst Bouaddi, who joined from Lille for £86 million, has largely been eased in from the bench under the Italian. What is in store for Anderson and Man City this weekend? City face Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Saturday at 17:30 UK - ahead of the November international break - with the Blues returning to Premier League action at home to Fulham on November 21. Forest could be without Nicolas Dominguez and Igor Jesus, who are both doubts with muscle and calf problems respectively, whilst full-back Nicolo Savona remains a long-term absentee with a knee injury. Manchester City have dropped to second in the Premier League after successive league defeats allowed Arsenal to move top, whilst Forest sit 19th and are without a goal or a win in five home league games this season under Oliver Glasner. The club continue to play against the backdrop of an independent commission's guilty verdict on 114 of 115 charges, with Manchester City having lodged a comprehensive appeal at 7pm on October 1.