Morgan Gibbs-White has been backed to be the difference for Nottingham Forest in their battle to avoid relegation.
The Reds' record signing will come up against former club Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday (3pm kick-off), in what is a key game at the bottom end of the table. The two teams are separated by just one point, with Steve Cooper's side sitting two points above the relegation zone and eager to end a six-match winless run.
Gibbs-White came in for flak from the visiting fans when Wolves visited the City Ground in the Carabao Cup in January; the attacker responded by sticking his fingers in his ears after scoring during the penalty shootout. Head coach Steve Cooper says he has no concerns about the 23-year-old's temperament should he take stick from the stands again, and is simply focused on ensuring the Forest star keeps doing his talking on the pitch.
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"We can only look after ourselves, in terms of our temperament and mentality, and the level of commitment and aggression we want to play with," Cooper said. "He's playing against his old club, but it's not for the first time, and every weekend there's somebody playing against their old club.
"It's just part of the movement of players and transfers. I don't think he's thinking about that too much. He'll just want to play the best he can in what will be a tough game.
"In the Premier League, you do get players who can make a difference. Morgan is definitely in the category of our players who can give something a game needs, especially when it's tight and there's nothing much in them. What we've got to do is keep him focused, motivated and confident, to feel free to take those risks and try things while making the right decisions for the team. We want his individual talent to come out, but we want it in the way we play, as a team.
"He plays in a position that can make a difference for us. And we want him to embrace, not just the demands of a Premier League match, but the context of playing at this time of the season and everything that goes with where we're at. This is a really important period for him, but we back him to do well.
"Players of his type will sometimes make mistakes because they are trying the hardest things, but he doesn't let it bother him too much in terms of trying again. Maybe that tells you about his mentality and his character.
"I honestly think it's about what's next with Morgan. It's not the time right now to see where he's at or where he's been. It's about what he can do in the next period, that's where my focus is. I believe he can have a big impact on games and make a difference.”
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