He was a standout player for Chelsea’s youth when he joined, but he never played for the main team, so this felt like a win-win situation.
Although he didn’t fit into Ruben Selles’ 4-2-2-2 system, which the Royals started the season with, it seemed as though he had a potential to eventually become a regular starter in a center attacking midfield position, and the team needed more creativity.
With the Berkshire side struggling early in the year, Selles eventually opted to go with a 4-1-4-1 and a 4-2-3-1. Ultimately, something had to go.
Elliott and Harvey Knibbs appeared to stand to gain from these systems, since they both obviously perform better when they play in the middle.
But Elliott has frequently battled to earn playing time, whereas Knibbs has flourished, with 15 goals and six assists in all competitions this season.
And a sizable portion of that playing time has been spent on the wings, a position that the Cameroonian international obviously finds uncomfortable.
Although he has a knack for getting past opponents, he has struggled to find success wide and faced criticism after starting on the left side of the field against Cambridge United and Northampton Town last month.
His two biggest moments of the season, as of late, come from the Royals’ home league games against Carlisle United and Exeter City in the EFL Trophy.
That evening in Devon, he demonstrated his quality by scoring a goal and providing an assist in a 9-0 victory at St. James’ Park. And it’s a moment that should be emphasized—his lovely pass to Femi Azeez for the fifth goal—that the Royals scored against Carlisle in November.
Elliott hasn’t had the finest season overall, but earlier this month, Selles made the decision to give him the chance to start at center versus Lincoln City.
Concerns were raised that he would not have the physicality to play in central midfield alongside Lewis Wing and fellow attack-oriented player Knibbs, but he shown excellent maturity in the middle of the pitch, proving Selles was right to take a chance on him.
The Royals have managed to guarantee their existence since he began in that capacity.
To say that the midfielder has been instrumental in the team’s success in staying out of League One would be absurd, given his contributions have been minimal all season.
However, he is now having the opportunity to flourish in a key role, and he has seized this opportunity by outperforming expectations in the four games that he has started and leaving his mark on games with his technical skill.
Given his lack of playing time at the Select Car Leasing Stadium, Elliott could have wondered earlier in the season if leaving Stamford Bridge was the correct move.
He wouldn’t have had to step outside of his comfort zone to continue growing in a top-tier academy.
With one more game remaining in the season to make an impression, he has managed to get some senior experience this term and is now starting on a regular basis in his favored position.
He may start for Selles’ team on the first day of the new term if he can deliver a strong showing against Blackpool this coming weekend.
Given the off-field problems the team has had this season, he would have had to learn a lot, and in a bizarre sense, he has probably benefited from the chaos.
It has most likely strengthened his fortitude and will help him become a more proficient player in the future.
Being in Berkshire is undoubtedly preferable to Stamford Bridge for him.