Winners and losers at City Ground after the summer window
OUR FOREST WRITER SARAH CLAPSON LOOKS AT THOSE WHO HAVE REASON TO BE CHEERFUL ... AND THOSE WHO HAVEN’T
AS expected, Chris Hughton has a very different looking Nottingham Forest squad to choose from now the transfer window has closed.
The Reds return to action against Cardiff City on Sunday, following the international break, with a number of new faces having been added since their last match.
An overhaul was always needed at the City Ground, after last season’s 17th-placed finish, and it proved to be a busy summer, full of ins and outs.
It means more options for manager Hughton when it comes to picking his team and more competition for places.
We take a look at some of the winners and losers from the window.
■WINNERS
The versatile youngster’s star has been on the rise over the last year or so.
He lit up League One with Lincoln City and has proved he can also cut it in the Championship, now he is back at his parent club.
That form saw him attract plenty of admirers over the summer. Keeping hold of him was a huge positive for Forest.
And despite reinforcements in the attacking ranks, he is sure to remain a key player for the Reds as they look to overcome a miserable start.
Gaetan Bong
At the end of last season, the leftback was told he was free to find a move elsewhere during the summer.
Now, he finds himself back in the fold and with the possibility of adding to his appearance tally.
Left-back has been a real problem area for Hughton. Forest have strengthened there but Bong looks set to still be considered as an option.
He is likely to play back-up to Max Lowe, while Jordi Osei-tutu has also filled in. Nevertheless, it’s some turnaround from the former Brighton & Hove Albion man’s situation just a few weeks ago.
Lewis Grabban
One of the big issues the Reds needed to address in the transfer window was a lack of goals.
Bringing in the likes of Philip Zinckernagel and retaining the services of Johnson should help when it comes to creating chances. Meanwhile, Grabban and Lyle Taylor remain on the books as senior strikers – albeit with new arrival Xande Silva also able to play up front.
It means Grabban
is likely to still see plenty of game time and will hope he gets more opportunities to find the back of the net.
■■LOSERS
Carl Jenkinson
Along with Bong, the full-back was one of four players told their services would no longer be required for this campaign.
Harry Arter (on loan to Charlton Athletic) and Fouad Bachirou (to Omonia Nicosia) have gone elsewhere, leaving Jenkinson as the only one of the quartet remaining and still very much out of the picture at the City Ground
Hughton had said the ex-arsenal defender wouldn’t be considered when Forest were struggling at rightback due to suspension and injury, so there seems little chance of his situation changing.
Jack Colback
The 31-year-old had regularly partnered Ryan Yates in the centre of the pitch in the opening games. It was a combination which generated plenty of debate among fans.
But the return of James Garner on loan from Manchester United, in particular, is likely to see Colback once again drop down the pecking order.
The midfielder has struggled to find the kind of form he showed in his two loan spells at the City Ground, since joining permanently 12 months ago.
And with Garner, as well as Braian Ojeda, putting pen to paper, securing a regular starting spot is going to be tough.
Joe Lolley
There’s no doubting the winger’s ability and the hope is he will be able to get back to somewhere near his best this term.
However, he faces a fight for the shirt.
Lolley has made two appearances so far this season, with illness having sidelined him before the international break. With Johnson and Alex Mighten having done well, Joao Carvalho still on the books, and Zinckernagel and Silva added, the battle is on for a starting spot.