Striker Keinan Davis has been hailed an “unsung hero” by Nottingham Forest teammate Steve Cook.
The Aston Villa loanee has impressed since signing for the Reds in the January transfer window, becoming a regular in the starting line-up.
He has found the net twice in his 10 appearances for the club, but those stats do not tell the whole story of his contribution on the pitch.
Davis and deadline day arrival Sam Surridge have been in the spotlight more while top scorer Lewis Grabban is out injured, with the likes of Brennan Johnson and James Garner also contributing goals in the front man’s absence.
“It was always a worry with Lewis being out for a while. But Keinan and Sam Surridge have come in and are both terrific footballers,” defender Cook told NottinghamshireLive.
“Keinan has been outstanding. He’s probably a bit of an unsung hero for us at the moment, because he’s doing the hard work. He’s bullying defenders and he’s connecting the play from back to front, without scoring the goals he probably would have liked so far.
“He’s looked such a threat. Keepers have made great saves against the efforts he’s had.
“With Jimmy’s goal at Blackburn, Keinan took five players out of the game - it was so unselfish. He’s been outstanding.
“When Sam has come on, he’s added to that as well.
“In terms of goals from others, apart from Brennan, I feel we can score more. But I don’t think we can ask any more of our strikers, they’ve been terrific.
“I’m sure Keinan and Sam are desperate to score more, but if they continue to contribute with the kind of work they have done so far, the players around them - and the staff - will be absolutely delighted with every one of our attacking players.”
Cook is also eager to help shoulder the goalscoring burden, having been denied on a few occasions so far - most recently with a good save from Bristol City stopper Daniel Bentley on Saturday.
“I’m desperate to get that first goal,” he grinned.
“I haven’t scored in a long time. The chances I’ve had, keepers have made good saves.
“Hopefully I’m saving a goal for a big occasion.
“I’m desperate to score. Steven Reid (first-team coach) is giving me a bit of stick!
“I’ve got a half-decent goal record in my career. I think once I get one, I’ll be able to contribute a lot more - I’m praying, anyway!”
