U23S ARE NOT FOR ME, SAYS FOREST ACE TOBY
WOKING’S returning on-loan midfielder Toby Edser reckons more young EFL players would benefit from playing in the National League like he is.
The Nottingham Forest youngster is back at Kingfield after impressing Alan Dowson during a short spell last season.
The 20-year-old reckons he has improved as a player as a result of his time with the Cards and has now urged others to follow his path.
“It’s definitely a wakeup call,” he told The NLP. “You can do as many passing drills and patterns of play in training throughout the age groups in your academy as you like.
“But as soon as you walk into a men’s environment, it’s completely different.
“My first loan spell at Woking made me grow up. I definitely returned to Nottingham Forest a better player.
“The earlier you can make the transition from U23 football to men’s football the better – even if you are dropping down a few leagues. I feel a lot of young players at the big clubs now feel like they’re too good to go and play in the National League.
“They would rather waste a year playing U23 football whilst they wait for a League One or League Two club to come in the summer. Go and prove yourself in the National League first, that will make managers trust you in the Football League.”
Edser is yet to make his senior debut for Forest and says the chance to return to Woking to get some game time and work under Dowson for a second time was too good turn down.
“I want to play with a smile on my face and start as many games as I can,” he added. “I loved every minute from my first spell at the club. The lads were brilliant and made me feel settled and that showed in my performances.
“Playing men’s football is what I need at this point in my career and I’m looking to prove myself at every level and see where it takes me.”