Colback welcomes the extra pressure on places
JACK Colback says he relishes the competition for a place in Nottingham Forest’s midfield.
It is an area of the pitch where the Reds are particularly well stocked when everyone is fit, giving boss Chris Hughton a selection dilemma.
Colback made his return from injury last week, while Samba Sow, Ryan Yates and Harry Arter remain sidelined.
Forest added Manchester United loanee James Garner during the January transfer window and also have Cafu and Fouad Bachirou on their books.
Earning a spot in the first 11 is tough, but Colback says he welcomed the signing of Garner, believing the Reds can only benefit from such strength in depth.
“I don’t think it’s a bad thing. There’s competition in every position. That’s the squad we’ve assembled,” he said.
“It keeps people on their toes. “I hope James comes in and does well. If he plays every game and the team does well, then I’d be very happy for that.
“I’m not someone who envies people playing ahead of me. I’ve just got to train well and if that chance comes, be ready. That’s football.
“I’ve had that my whole career with players coming in.
“You’ve just got to make sure you train well and that will take care of itself.”
Garner has impressed in his first two outings in the Garibaldi, helping set up the third goal as they beat Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday.
That was on the back of a good debut against Coventry City last
Tuesday.
Colback said of Garner’s first display: “I thought he was different class. He played some lovely little balls to switch the play. “He’s come in at 19 and done that. “He was saying during the game that it was his first game for a while, so he was blowing a bit by the end!
“It’s tough to step in there, have the pace of the game and the sharpness, but I thought he was really good.
“Coming from a club like Manchester United, he’s going to have pedigree and quality. He’s shown that in training.
“The gaffer was brave enough to put him straight in and he’s repaid that.
“I’m sure he’ll be hoping to build on those performances.”
After being sidelined with an ankle injury since November, Colback made his comeback from off the bench against the Sky Blues and got another 10 minutes as a substitute against the Chairboys.
On whether he is fit enough to start games, he said prior to the Wycombe clash: “I’m not quite 100 percent fit, because you only get that through games, but you have to start somewhere.
“If I was asked to start, I’d get through as much as I could and build from there.
“It’s tough because the manager might look and think, he’s been out for so long, he’s not ready. But you only build your fitness up through games.
“I’ll be ready if called upon.”
You’ve just got to make sure you train well and that will take care of itself
Jack Colback