Skipper Joe Worrall has called on Nottingham Forest fans to stick by the players in the tough times which come with promotion to the Premier League.
The defender has stressed the difference Reds supporters can make, recalling the part the City Ground crowd played in the second leg of the play-off semi-final against Sheffield United last season. On that occasion, when the visitors drew level on aggregate on the night, a great roar erupted from the stands. That backing saw Steve Cooper’s side survive extra-time and triumph in a penalty shootout to book their place at Wembley.
Making the step up to the top-flight has been an adjustment. Forest have lost their last three matches and sit 19th in the table, with four points from their first six games.
READ MORE: Paul Merson gives worrying Forest verdict and makes Leeds United comparison
READ MORE: Predicted Forest XI as Cooper faces tough calls
Injury boost?
Nottingham Forest midfielder Orel Mangala seems to have taken a significant step in his recovery from injury.
The summer signing was forced off in the second half of the Reds’ 1-1 draw at Everton last month, after receiving treatment on the pitch. Initially, it was hoped he was suffering from “fatigue”, but it then became clear a spell on the sidelines would be required.
Mangala has not featured since then, due to a hamstring problem. And boss Steve Cooper has spoken about having to be “careful” not to rush him back.
However, over the weekend, the 24-year-old posted some pictures of himself in training with his teammates on Instagram. He captioned one of them: “Back.”
Pundits' predictions
Former Premier League stars Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville couldn't agree on their prediction for where Nottingham Forest would finish the season.
Ex-Liverpool defender Carragher claimed at the start of the new campaign that they could be the only side to stay up from the three who were promoted to the top-flight, while Neville was more clinical in his verdict. Forest have started the season slowly having won one of their first six games, and currently sit in the bottom three after the first month of action.
Having spent around £150million on 22 new recruits over the summer transfer window, boss Steve Cooper has no shortage of quality in his squad, but he faces the task of gelling a new set of players while also getting results. Carragher admitted that he would be delighted to see the Reds avoid the drop this term.
He told The Overlap Live Fan Debate last month: "I love the fact that Nottingham Forest are back. It’s a bit like when Leeds came back up, when you were a kid they took part in big games. There are clubs that you just love to see in there and Forest are one of them.
Transfer decision
Striker Hwang Ui-jo came close to signing for American club Minnesota United before his move to Nottingham Forest was agreed.
The South Korea international joined the Reds from Bordeaux last month, as one of 22 new arrivals in a busy few months at the City Ground. He immediately went out on loan and will spend the season in Greece with fellow Evangelos Marinakis-owned side Olympiacos.
However, Forest were not the only team interested in Ui-jo this summer. Minnesota also made a push to secure his signature.
“We did go quite a ways down the line with him,” technical director Mark Watson told Pioneer Press. “His situation was really complicated.”
What have you made of Forest's start to the season? Have your say in the comments below
READ NEXT:
