Nottingham Forest captain Joe Worrall has insisted that signing a player of Jesse Lingard's calibre, "should be the norm for the club" following his arrival on a free-transfer.
The Reds secured the ex-Manchester United star's services on a one-year contract after making a substantial offer to sign him. And while the club has been very active in the transfer window this summer, the signing came as a shock to some.
Steve Cooper's side were reportedly battling with "at least four different clubs" for his signature, including West Ham who Lingard had previously been on loan with.
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As the Reds prepare for their return to the Premier League earlier next month, Worrall is confident the 29-year-old's qualities will play an important role along the way.
"Jesse has got quality," Worrall told Sky Sports. "First of all, he's a really nice guy, somebody who has fit in like he's been here for many years.
"He's somebody who uses his qualities at England international, somebody who's played in the Premier League consistently for the last seven, eight, nine years.
"I might be doing him justice in that, it could be 10 and he's scored goals and assists - that's the key to any attacking player. Somebody of his calibre, he'll thrive off at Forest."
Asked whether his signing came as a shock, the skipper added: "It didn't [shock us]. Forest is a massive club. It wasn't long ago where our whole starting eleven was England player.
"So to have somebody of Jesse's calibre, it should be the norm for a club like Nottingham Forest."
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