Anderson returned from the north east of England to face Newcastle following his mum’s funeral on Friday, a day after Forest’s Europa League semi-final exit to Aston Villa.

He had already scored in the 5-0 win at Sunderland last month as he continues to produce for Forest.

“It did [mean a lot] – a few things going on recently, so it felt really nice,” he told Sky Sports.

“We’ve made a U-turn and done really well. The manager is brilliant and we’re all behind him. It was a tough game in midweek but as the manager said, this group is full of fighters.

“Four managers has not been easy but we’ve all stuck together and fought for each other.”

Manager Vitor Pereira praised the midfielder’s courage after his fourth goal of the season following an emotional week.

“It’s difficult for me and I believe everybody can understand what he’s feeling inside,” he said.

“But in the end I believe that he honours his mother, going on the pitch and running until the last breath.

“I think he wants a lot to score a goal, and he believes until the end. He’s a very, very talented player but is a strong, strong character. If not, it’s not possible.”

Anderson has become an England regular this season, earning seven caps, and is certain to go to the World Cup as one of Thomas Tuchel’s trusted players.

Manchester United and Manchester City have him high on their wanted list this summer and Forest will struggle to keep him with no European football next season.

“I don’t have the answer,” said Pereira when asked about Anderson’s future.

“I know he deserves the top of the world. But he’s our player. We need to enjoy him. Sometimes I work with top, talented players, but to find a top player with this character is not easy.

“I’m not thinking about next season. I’m thinking about finishing this season in the best position we can.”

Forest are certain to make a huge profit on the 23-year-old, who cost £35m when he moved from St James’ Park.

“The unfortunate thing for Forest is that there is no way they can keep him this summer, he has been that good,” former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy told Match of the Day.

“He is going to start for England at the World Cup, and he is going to have loads of suitors – the only question is where he will end up, not whether he will leave.”

The Europa League defeat against Villa hurt the squad and Anderson struggled to make an impact, having dominated Forest’s first-leg 1-0 win.

It was their chance to end a 36-year silverware drought and reach a first major European final since the famous Brian Clough side managed successive European Cup wins in 1979 and 1980.

The squad needed a result to bounce back and, trailing to Harvey Barnes’ goal, defeat loomed.

But Anderson took his moment – just his fourth goal of the season – to rescue a point with two minutes left that edged Forest to the brink of Premier League survival, confirmed when Arsenal beat West Ham.

Pereira added: “In the warm-up, my assistants, my staff said to me: ‘Elliot is on fire today – every time he took a shot on goal, he scored.’

“The funeral of his mother was two days ago. He travelled to Newcastle, came back and I do not have words to thank him. I believe that he wanted to honour his mother with a goal.

“That’s why he tried until the last minute to score a goal because this is how he found a way to go on the pitch and give everything – to play for him and to play for her.”