Nottingham Forest enjoyed a busy January transfer window as Steve Cooper looked to make his mark on the Reds after taking over the reins from Chris Hughton in September 2021.
Joao Carvalho (Olympiacos, permanent), Mohamed Drager (FC Luzern, loan with option), Lyle Taylor (loan), Rodrigo Ely (released), Jordi Osei-Tutu (returned to parent club), Carl Jenkinson (Melbourne City, loan) all left the City Ground back in the winter, but one particular player has shone since moving away. Carl Jenkinson.
He joined Forest back in 2019 from Arsenal as a number of signings by Ioannis Vrentzos. His 11-year spell in North London resulted in one England cap, but the full-back was never really able to get going once he arrived at the City Ground. He has been frozen out of the squad and intended to be moved on for a number of transfer windows, but finally succeeded in a move away when Australian side Melbourne City came calling.
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Injuries proved to be Jenkinson's main struggle at Nottingham Forest, resulting in just 15 appearances across all competitions for the Reds. Eight of those came in one season (2019/20). Remarkably, however, he has enjoyed an injury-free time since heading Down Under.
"The past couple of years I haven't played as much as I would have liked so to be here now in this situation and they feel like big games," said Jenkinson.
"Obviously Sydney is a massive game and the derby and then off to the Champions League, that's big game after big game and it's exciting. It's what I've needed and what I've wanted on a personal level for while."
Jenkinson has appeared in every City game since arriving in January, making 21 appearances across the A League and AFC Champions League. Only four times has he been a used substitute which is quite surprising given, before his move to Australia, his last game was an FA Cup defeat at Swansea City in January 2021.
He has also scored three goals for City - his most recent one came on April 21 in a 2-1 Champions League win over Jeonnam Dragons - and fans across the ocean are starting to enjoy their new player. His goal tally even has him ranking higher than ex-Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge, who is yet to score for Perth Glory.
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