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Nottingham Forest notebook: Keeper stance outlined, loan rethink mooted, staff role change
Nottingham Forest will be eager to get back to winning ways when they take to the City Ground pitch this weekend.
Their 3-0 loss at Arsenal made it back-to-back defeats for the Reds, having also been toppled by Newcastle United prior to the international break. And with a tough double-header away to the Manchester clubs to come next week, it means there is added importance around Saturday’s home clash with Ipswich Town (3pm kick-off).
Head coach Nuno Espirito Santo will be keen to ensure there is no underestimating the newly-promoted visitors. Below is our round-up of the latest goings-on Trentside ahead of the match against the Tractor Boys.
Carlos’ chance
Nuno has pledged that chances “are coming” for back-up stopper Carlos Miguel. And he has told the Brazilian to keep playing his part in the goalkeepers’ union in the meantime.
Miguel has featured just once for the Reds since his summer switch from Corinthians. He conceded only a few seconds into his debut against Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup back in August but recovered to give a good account of himself, despite the team’s defeat on penalties.
He has had to settle for a place on the bench since then - and reports from Brazil have suggested he is none too happy about the situation. However, Nuno has urged the 26-year-old to be patient.
"First of all, (Miguel is) a fantastic person,” the Portuguese told ESPN Brazil. “He's a big guy, which is important for a goalkeeper. But he's humble and knows that he has to work hard and that the opportunity will come one day.
“Unfortunately, we were eliminated on penalties in a game in which he played very well, one of the best on the field. But opportunities are coming and the important thing is that he keeps doing what he does, which is supporting Matz Sels because a goalkeeper's life is a mini-group within a group. They have to be very united, and Carlos is doing that and we are very grateful.”
Loan rethink?
The coming weeks could be crucial for Reds loanee Josh Bowler. The winger is spending the season at Preston North End, with the Championship outfit holding an option to buy.
However, it seems so far the 25-year-old hasn’t quite made the impact it was hoped he would. Could a rethink be on the cards?
Bowler has made only seven appearances for the Lilywhites, including just two league starts. He did not get off the bench in last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Derby and appears to be down the pecking order.
The Lancashire Post argue the loan has “not gone to plan for any party”. And they emphasise the importance of the former Blackpool man taking any chances which arise in the next few weeks.
Their assessment adds: “If the current trend continues, then there are serious questions to be asked as to whether anyone is actually benefitting here. There is very little point having a loan player in the building, not playing football and contributing to the team. Quite simply, nobody wins.”
Bowler joined Forest in the summer of 2022 but immediately headed out on loan. He initially linked up with fellow Evangelos Marinakis-owned side Olympiacos, then when that spell was ended early he joined Blackpool for the second half of the 2022/23 campaign. He spent last term with Cardiff City.
New role
A change behind the scenes has seen Adam Burrows promoted to the role of performance services lead at Forest, according to Training Ground Guru. It follows the departure of Alek Gross, who was head of performance, in the summer.
Gross made the move south to become head of performance and medicine for Brighton Women and Girls in July. The report states that Burrows’ title is “slightly different” but he will follow his predecessor in overseeing a department that includes strength and conditioning coach Josh Bridge and performance coaches Lauren Horner and Tom Evans.
Burrows joined the Reds in the summer of 2023. He has previously worked for Chelsea and Derby County as a strength and conditioning coach.
Targeting a return
Former Reds boss Billy Davies is eager to return to football management. The Scot has been out of work since leaving the City Ground in 2014 but has made it clear he wants to get back to the dugout.
Had things worked out differently, Forest might not have proved to be Davies’ most recent job. He says he spoke to former Rangers managing director Stewart Roberton about taking charge at Ibrox a few years after his departure from the Reds.
Asked if he had ever spoken to Rangers about the possibility of being manager there, the 60-year-old told Glasgow World: “Yes. My agent got a call, I think it was 2016/17. My agent gets a call from a Rangers board member, that Rangers board member tells him that the Rangers board want to speak to me about the job. The following morning we are apparently getting a call from Stewart Robertson because we are going for an interview to become the Rangers manager and we have not heard anything since.
“The interesting thing is since 2004, I have been linked with this job every single year or two. My name comes up and I have never spoken to the club. They have never even given me an interview.
“I’m ready to go and I am desperate to get the boots back on again. I have never felt more prepared and ready, on and off the pitch. I can’t wait to get back to my day job.”
