Mixed fortunes for Forest players sent out on loan
THE loan market proved to be a source of success for Nottingham Forest in the summer transfer window.
Philip Zinckernagel, Max Lowe and Djed Spence have all impressed since signing for the Reds, while new boss Steve Cooper will be hoping to get the best out of James Garner and for Jordi Osei-tutu to overcome his injury troubles.
Their arrival was part of a dressing room overhaul which saw a number of incomings and outgoings at the City Ground, including some players who headed elsewhere on a temporary basis.
We take a look at how those who left Forest on loan are getting on.
Nicholas Ioannou
After spending the second half of last term with Aris Thessaloniki, the left-back made the switch to Italian outfit Como 1907 in the summer on a season-long loan.
He has made seven appearances so far, with one in the Coppa Italia, and has also featured for Cyprus in World Cup qualifiers.
Como have been struggling for form, though, and sit 16th in the table, with only one win and three draws.
Harry Arter
”I’ve always had that feeling of wanting to prove people wrong when I’ve been back to Charlton,” the midfielder said of returning to his old club.
“But now, hopefully, I can prove people right - they wanted me to come back, which I’m really thankful for, and I can’t wait to get started and fulfil what I always wanted to do when I was a young kid and that was to be a first-team player at Charlton.”
One of a group of players told they had no future at the City Ground in
the summer, Arter will spend the campaign at the club where he started his career.
Lacking in match sharpness, though, he has struggled for regular game time.
Each of his three appearances so far have come in the starting 11, but he has completed the full 90 minutes just once - with the 31-year-old hooked at half-time of a 2-2 draw with Portsmouth last month.
The clash with Pompey was his first home game for the Addicks, but South London Press reported it “didn’t go to plan”. They said: “He was taken off corner duties after his first two near-post attempts were easily cleared and struggled to make an impression.”
After that, he was an unused substitute in Charlton’s next fixture, against Bolton Wanderers, before being recalled for the trip to Fleetwood Town last weekend.
Nuno Da Costa
The striker got a rare run-out in the Garibaldi back in August, against Bradford City in the Carabao Cup.
But it always looked likely he would end up moving on.
Belgian outfit Royal Excel Mouscron declined to take up an option to buy in the summer, following a loan
spell there last term, and the 30-yearold now finds himself at Caen.
He is yet to make it out on the pitch for the Ligue 2 side, however, due to injury.
French website ML2 quote sport director Yohan Eudeline as saying, in a translated interview: “Nuno had a little strain. He was to come back after a week. Unfortunately, he felt a little pain when he resumed. We weren’t going to take any risks. He will resume.
“We will have lost a little bit of time because he also arrived on the last day of the transfer window. This is also part of the situations during the transfer window. It’s complicated to find negotiation.
“He arrives late without the training he should have (had) and unfortunately he freaks out a bit. We are the ones who are reaping the rewards. We have to deal with it.
“He is recovering properly. I hope he will be with us as soon as possible.”
George Shelvey
The young goalkeeper is with League Two side Mansfield Town, with his two outings so far coming in the Football League Trophy.
Stags have lost both games he has played, against Harrogate Town (3-1) and Sheffield Wednesday (2-1).
The 20-year-old came in for a bit of criticism from Nigel Clough for the first goal he conceded against the latter this week, with the manager telling the Mansfield Chad: “I was disappointed with their first goal with George Shelvey. If he’s coming for it, he has to get something on the ball.”
Shelvey has been back-up on the bench for Nathan Bishop in the league.