Michael O'Neill says Sam Surridge "stuggled to settle" at Stoke City as he explained why the striker joined Nottingham Forest in a £2million deal on transfer deadline day.
The Potters boss sanctioned the exit of the former Swansea forward on Monday, with Surridge being one of two arrivals at the City Ground before the 11pm deadline.
Surridge is well known to Reds head coach Steve Cooper given the pair worked together during the forward's loan spell at Swansea and he arrives Trentside hoping to play a key role in a promotion push.
Stoke boss O'Neill signed one-time Forest target Josh Maja on a loan deal from Bordeaux as his replacement and felt the deal to sell Surridge was best for both the player and the club.
"We bought Sam in the summer with a long-term objective and unfortunately it didn’t go as well as we’d hoped. The player struggled a bit to settle," he said.
“He got off to a decent start, scored on his debut and the early games were very promising but his form suffered a little bit after that and I think generally he struggled to settle at the club. Sometimes that happens.
"When the opportunity came to do a permanent deal we thought it was the best thing to do for the club and the player. It was a good deal to be able to do at that point in time.
"With Josh (Maja) it is a different circumstance because it’s a loan and we’ll get to see much more of him before we get into the situation when we would have to commit in terms of the cost of that would be.
"From our point of view we’re delighted with that deal all round.”
Surridge told Forest's official website, Surridge said he wanted to be somewhere he was "loved".
"I'm excited to come in and work with the team and help any way I can and just keep pushing," he said.
"I know Forest didn't get off to the best start this season, but since the manager's come in, he's done great; it's only upwards.
"If I can help in any way between now and the end of the season and perform the way I know I can, then I'm sure I will. I'm just excited to get out there and start scoring goals.
"I want a home, I want to be somewhere I'm loved, and I feel like, with the manager here, the club size, it's everything I want."
