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Elliot Anderson fully focused on winning World Cup for England amid Man City move
Elliot Andersons impending mega-money move to Manchester City will not impact the England midfielders focus on winning the World Cup, according to team-mate Jarell Quansah.The 23-year-old has established himself as a key part of Thomas Tuchels side since making his debut last September and impressed on his major tournament bow as they overcame Croatia 4-2 in last weeks thriller.Anderson also started Englands 0-0 draw with Ghana and heads into Saturdays Group L finale against Panama fresh from the life-changing news that City have struck a deal to sign him from Nottingham Forest.Jarell Quansah has been impressed by team-mate Anderson (JC Ruiz/PA)The agreement is said to be worth 116m and a medical has reportedly been lined up for when the team arrives in the Tri-State Area, but Quansah does not expect his team-mates focus to waver.I see a player thats fully focused on what he wants, and I think at the moment what he wants is to win a World Cup, the England defender told talkSPORT. That ultimately is the goal.Obviously Im not in his head or whatnot, but Im sure he is fully focused on winning the World Cup for England, and you cant drift too far away from that and he knows that.But hes a proper focused young lad and hell go right to the top I think.Anderson has flourished since being moved to a deeper midfield role by England Under-21s boss Lee Carsley, who he played a starring role for in last summers European Championship triumph.Anderson is expected to leave Nottingham Forest for Manchester City (Mike Egerton/PA)Quansah, another member of that victorious side, said: I think hes a very versatile player as well.This season hes played a deeper role, played in a sort of a six and sometimes an eight, but hes got probably everything you want as a midfielder, to be honest.I remember hearing about him at Bristol Rovers (when I went on loan there afterwards) and I think he was playing on the wing.Knowing he can do that and what he does in training sessions as well, hes got a lot of attributes that are really good for an England squad and exactly what the manager wants, which is good.Tuchel has some interesting decisions to make this weekend as he looks to balance protecting players with producing the performance needed to top Group L.Declan Rice will be assessed ahead of the clash with Panama (Martin Rickett/PA)England are all but assured of a place in the round of 32 ahead of facing already-eliminated Panama but must equal or better Ghanas result against Croatia to top the pool.Star midfielder Declan Rice has been under assessment ahead of Saturdays match having limped out of Gillette Stadium on Tuesday, while Reece James sounds a major doubt.A hamstring injury is said to have seen him miss training on Thursday and back-up Tino Livramentos enforced departure opens the door to versatile Quansah stepping in at right-back.It will be cliche but its a dream come true, and theres probably no better words to actually sum it up, the Bayer Leverkusen defender said of his potential World Cup debut.Because when youre younger, playing in the back garden, or whatever youre doing, you always think about World Cups and the biggest stage of them all in my opinion.To be able to play with England it will be a massive, massive honour, and something Im ready for, and something Id look forward to.PA
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