Nottingham Forest winger Joe Lolley is understood to be close to a move away from the club - with Australia his destination.
Lolley has seen his role become increasingly limited since his wonderful 2018/19 campaign when he scored 11 goals and added 11 assists, and the following campaign when he started 37 games and registered nine goals and nine assists.
He then suffered with with muscle compartment syndrome - something which left him in pain in both legs every time he ran and though fit again last season, he was limited to 10 starts as he made 30 appearances in total, assisting just once and failing to score. The 29-year-old featured at the start of pre-season but was then forced to train with the Under-23s after being deemed surplus to requirements.
READ MORE: Nottingham Forest transfer blow as Premier League rival ‘agree deal’ for target
READ MORE: Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper expects more deals as he provides transfer update
“It’s not about any individual. It’s about trying to prepare a squad and a team that we want to commit to for the season ahead,” head coach Steve Cooper said of Lolley's situation, when speaking to The Athletic after the team’s 0-0 draw at Barnsley in pre-season.
“Part of the preparation is the training and coaching model we use, which is more or less 20 players every single day. Sometimes that varies, of course, it’s not completely fixed. When you bring players in and move players on, it takes a little bit of sorting out. That’s all it is.
“It’s just the natural process; the turnaround of ending one season and getting ready for another one. It’s as simple as that. Some guys will do pre-season with us and move on. Some guys will do pre-season elsewhere and come back in or will move on or whatever.
“I like to train with a certain number of players. The players are really clear about that. And that’s what we’re committing to.”
Nottinghamshire Live understands Lolley is close to a move to the Australian A League where he would find some familiar faces in former Reds, Carl Jenkinson and Jason Cummings. The Athletic has reported Lolley will join Sydney FC since this article was published.
Striker Cummings has played for the Central Coast Mariners since January, while Jenkinson has signed for Newcastle Jets after his Forest contract at the end of last season. Jenkinson spent the second half of last season on loan with Melbourne City after failing to make an appearance for Forest in the first half of the campaign.
Is it a good move for Lolley? Have your say in the comments section below
READ NEXT:
