Defender Mohamed Drager says it was “tempting” to try to stake his claim for a place with Nottingham Forest this season.
The right-back joined the Reds from Olympiacos little more than 12 months ago, but has not made a single appearance in the Garibaldi. After a spell at FC Luzern last season, he returned to the Swiss club on loan this summer, with an option to make the move a permanent one.
Drager has made six league appearances so far this season, with his aim to get regular game time as he targets a place in Tunisia’s World Cup squad. And he says it was with Qatar in mind that he wanted to go out on loan again, rather than try to force his way into Steve Cooper’s thinking at the City Ground.
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Newspaper Blick report he “would have had a number of offers on the table”, including remaining at Forest and heading elsewhere on loan. But he was keen to remain in familiar territory.
In a translated interview, the 26-year-old said: “Honestly, the World Cup is just around the corner. I really enjoy the FCL.
“And I also believe that no obstacles will be put in my way here to be able to prepare well for the World Cup. Of course, the Premier League with Nottingham would have been tempting, but also very difficult."
On his country’s World Cup chances, he added: “You shouldn’t underestimate us. In addition, three home games are waiting for us. There is a large Tunisian community in Qatar that will cheer us on."
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