Defender Nicholas Ioannou is to be given a surprise Nottingham Forest lifeline ahead of the summer transfer window.
Ioannou, 26, has spent the past season out on loan at Italian side Como but will be given the opportunity to fight for a place in Steve Cooper's squad regardless of whether they are promoted or not to the Premier League, if he wants to stay. Forest find themselves within a contested race for the Championship play-offs. Cooper's side are fifth in the standings, seven points behind second-placed Bournemouth and four clear of seventh-placed Middlesbrough.
The Reds also have two games in hand over several of their rivals sat around them. Ioannou has made five appearances for Forest but has spent the past season on-loan at Como in Serie B. The 26-year-old has enjoyed the greater playing opportunities available to him as he has become a regular starter under Giacomo Gattuso.
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Nottinghamshire Live understands Ioannou will return to the Reds this summer and will be given the opportunity to showcase his talents in pre-season training before a decision is made about his immediate future. Whilst it remains most likely that the left back - who joined Forest in September 2020 and is contracted until 2023 - will depart the City Ground either on another loan or a permanent deal, the Reds are not yet set on that outcome.
It is also claimed that the player will be involved in discussions over his future, meaning Ioannou could decide to stay on the banks of the Trent and stake a claim to start under Cooper.
The Reds have a number of options currently available at left-back but that will decrease over the summer. Max Lowe will return to his parent club Sheffield United once the season is over, although Forest will likely look to bring him back, while Gaetan Bong is out of contract this summer too.
That leaves Richie Laryea - as yet to make his Reds debut - the only senior out-and-out left-back option. Jack Colback has featured in the position in Lowe's absence - due to an injury - whilst youngster Aaron Donnelly could be involved in the first-team picture thanks to some dazzling academy performances.
