Almost at the midway point of the season, it has been something of a mixed bag so far for the Nottingham Forest players out on loan.
Some have had a break from domestic action while on duty with their countries at the World Cup. Others have continued to pick up minutes as games have continued elsewhere.
The Reds have got 14 loanees spending time elsewhere this season. We take a look at how they are getting on.
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Will Swan
“It is important for me with where I am in my career that I get this experience and it's been a big help for me,” the striker recently told the Mansfield Chad of his stint at Mansfield Town. “I am enjoying it and I think I'm playing pretty well, so I can't complain.”
Working with Forest great Nigel Clough is also proving of benefit for the 22-year-old. He added: “It is good playing under him and training under him because, as a striker, he has lots of knowledge and tips he can give me that maybe other coaches couldn't, who have played in different positions in their careers. He just gives me small things I can try to implement on the pitch and it is very helpful to me.”
Swan bagged his seventh goal in 22 appearances for the Stags in a 2-1 victory over Colchester 10 days ago. He was an unused substitute for last weekend’s 0-0 draw at Stevenage.
Riley Harbottle
The midfielder is also on loan at One Call Stadium, and has been picking up plenty of valuable minutes. A regular in the first XI, all but three of his 22 appearances have been in the starting line-up, while he has netted three goals.
Discussing Swan’s strike against Colchester, he told the official website: “I’m buzzing for him, that’s what he does. I’ve played with him since I was 10 years-old so I know he can do that.
“He’s not the biggest lad but his leap is ‘frightening’ and I’m buzzing, buzzing for him and the whole team. It’s a good game and a good three points.”
Harbottle and Swan are proving to be key members of the team as Mansfield push at the top end of the table. Clough’s side sit fifth in League Two.
Alex Mighten
The Nigel Doughty Academy graduate hasn’t had the easiest of times at Sheffield Wednesday. But there have been signs he has started to find his feet.
He has been in and out of the side somewhat, and has started just five league games. However, he did score twice in successive appearances in November.
He had to contend with boos from Derby County fans in his last run-out for the Owls. Boss Darren Moore played Mighten as a striker in the 0-0 draw - having previously utilised him out wide and as a wing-back. The Forest man had little joy up front, though.
“What Alex does is he gives you areas where he can drop in deep to get the ball,” Moore told Sheffield Star. “I thought he faced up and with his beautiful feet he caught them off-balance once or twice.
“Once you get into those final areas with his tight control, he gives defences something different to worry about than a Lee Gregory or Mallik or Callum Paterson and their skill sets. I just thought moving a wide player into the middle of the pitch, he could operate in tight areas. I thought it worked but obviously it just ran out of steam a little bit and so we put two sets of fresh legs up top.”
Mighten then found himself unable to get on the pitch next time out. He was an unused sub in Wednesday’s 1-1 draw at Exeter City last weekend.
Josh Bowler
Forest fans had the chance to get a glimpse of the summer signing on Saturday. The former Blackpool man came off the bench in Olympiacos’ friendly with the Reds as the two Evangelos Marinakis-owned sides met in Greece.
Bowler didn’t have too many opportunities to show what he is about. But he did make one particularly brilliant run, which the hosts were unable to make the most of.
Game time has proved hard to come by, however. He has made just four league appearances so far.
Hwang Ui-jo
The striker was not involved in the weekend’s friendly against his parent club, having been on duty with South Korea at the World Cup. He was involved in his country’s four games in Qatar, including coming off the bench in their knockout defeat to Brazil.
Similarly to Bowler, getting regular minutes for Olympiacos hasn’t been easy. He is yet to find the back of the net and has started two league games.
Mohamed Drager
The defender featured twice for Tunisia at the World Cup, starting group games against Denmark and Australia. He will have a break before linking back up with FC Luzern as the Swiss league does not restart until January. He will hope to pick up where he left off when it does, having been a regular in the side, with 14 league appearances so far this term.
Ethan Horvath
He didn’t get on the pitch for the United States in Qatar, but he has slotted straight back in at Luton Town. No sooner had the goalkeeper returned to the UK, he was in action when the Championship resumed last weekend.
Horvath was between the posts as the Hatters lost 2-1 at Middlesbrough, in what was his 21st run-out for the club. Luton are 13th in the second tier table.
Tyrese Fornah
He has been a solid performer for Reading, with some suggestions he has been unfortunate not to feature more than he has. It was the battle of two Forest loanees in the Championship on Saturday, as Fornah started for the Royals and Jonathan Panzo was in the XI for Coventry City. Fornah’s side came out on top, 1-0, with the midfielder playing almost 70 minutes in his 21st appearance.
Jonathan Panzo
For the defender, the weekend’s game was his 19th Championship appearance for the Sky Blues. All except three of those have been as a starter.
In his player ratings for Saturday’s game, Coventry City reporter Andy Turner gave Panzo a 6.5 for CoventryLive. He wrote: “Headed clear from Reading’s early set-piece threat and defended strongly in an impressive first half when he displayed good strength on the ball.”
Fin Back
The youngster had been in great form for Carlisle United. But he now faces three or four months on the sidelines, having undergone surgery on a hamstring injury.
On what's next for Back, Carlisle boss Paul Simpson said: "It all depends on what Forest decide, Forest may want to keep him back with them and they may want to recall him, I don't really know at this moment in time.
"It's more about getting him sorted with the surgery and starting his recovery and making sure everything's right for Fin to continue playing to the level that he did while he was with us."
Taking to Twitter after his surgery, Back posted: "Devastated - but unbelievably thankful for a very successful surgery from Dr. Lasse Lempainen and his team!"
Richie Laryea
He caught the eye with Canada at the World Cup, leading some Reds fans to question whether he could be recalled from Toronto. That seems unlikely, given he had struggled to force his way into Cooper’s plans.
Moreover, talks have taken place over turning his loan switch into a permanent move. “There have been those kinds of discussions, so we’ll see how they all work out,” Toronto coach Bob Bradley recently said. Laryea featured three times as Canada made a few observers sit up and take note in Qatar.
Braian Ojeda
The midfielder was called up by Paraguay for a couple of friendlies last month, being used as a sub against Peru and starting against Colombia. Pre-season for his MLS side, Real Salt Lake, will start in January, before the new campaign begins the following month.
Brandon Aguilera
The teenager became Costa Rica’s second-youngster player to feature at a World Cup when he was brought on for his tournament debut. He played the final 15 minutes of his country’s 7-0 defeat to Spain, and is viewed as a bright talent.
He joined Guanacasteca on a six-month loan after he put pen to paper for Forest, to continue his development. It remains to be seen whether he will get a chance Trentside once that is up.
Nicky Hogarth
The goalkeeper has had plenty of game time at Falkirk. He has featured 17 times so far, and although he was on the bench for a Scottish Challenge Cup tie, he is expected to return between the posts against Alloa Athletic in the league at the weekend.
Which loanees would you like to see get a chance at Forest? Have your say in the comments below
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