Nottingham Forest rebuffed interest from clubs looking to take promising youngster Ateef Konate on loan this month.
Head coach Steve Cooper admits it was a topic of discussion about the 20-year-old, who made his league debut in Tuesday night’s 3-0 win over Barnsley.
But it was decided he would benefit from remaining at the City Ground as he continues to push for further first-team opportunities.
“There has been a lot of interest for Ateef for loans. We did talk about it personally, as well,” Cooper told NottinghamshireLive.
“Like all the young lads, he’s desperate to play in the first-team - and so they should be.
“But they have got to work hard to get that opportunity. Him and one or two others are really pushing hard.
“You always try to make the right decisions for players, in terms of staying, moving them into the first-team squad or letting them go on loan. You always do it with the best intentions; whether they work or not is another thing.
“With Ateef, he’s going to stay with us. The rest is up to him.”
Konate is part of a group of Under-23s players who have regularly joined in training with the senior squad since Cooper arrived in September.
And he has also impressed for Andy Reid’s Under-23s.
“He’s a player that we know and like. It hasn’t just been about the last days or weeks,” Cooper added.
“He’s trained with us a lot since I’ve been here. It should have been more, really, but circumstances have sometimes dictated.
“Sometimes he’s trained and thought he could have offered a bit more, other times he’s trained and done really, really well. We’re pushing him.
“In recent weeks, he’s been playing very well for the 23s. Andy Reid has been very, very happy with him.
“I watched him against QPR, for the 23s, and thought he was one of the outstanding performers on the night.
“He has really started to show that when he’s been with us in training now.
“That’s the first thing. And then a few things in the transfer window can happen which can maybe create an opening for selection. It was great to get him on the bench, and even better to get him on.
“Hopefully he can get a little boost from that, work even harder and player even better. Who knows, he might get some more opportunities - we all want that.”
Lyle Taylor was left out of the matchday squad in midweek ahead of a loan switch to Birmingham City, which freed up a space for Konate to be involved.
Cooper was also without Richie Laryea, Braian Ojeda and Mohamed Drager due to the trio being on international duty, leaving him short on numbers.
But whatever happens in the remainder of the transfer window, in terms of ins or outs, he hopes to give more rising talent from the academy a chance between now and May.
“You look at the calendar, February is such a busy month. You might have to rotate the squad, hopefully we don’t but you can pick up injuries and suspensions,” he said.
“All of those things can fall into a young player’s hands, in terms of opportunities. Especially after the transfer window closes.
“One thing is for sure, if a player is training hard enough and playing well enough for Andy in the 23s, and there’s an opportunity and an opening, we won’t have any hesitation in putting them in.”
