Boss Steve Cooper has predicted a bright future at Nottingham Forest for youngster Alex Mighten.
Game time has been limited for the 20-year-old this season, with a combination of injuries, tactical tweaks and the Reds’ impressive promotion-chasing form playing a part. Saturday’s run-out from off the bench was only his fourth appearance of 2022.
Still, Mighten marked it with a goal which showed great determination and capped a 5-1 win over Swansea City as Forest kept their hopes of snatching second spot alive. And Cooper says the Nigel Doughty Academy graduate will be a key part of his plans going forward.
Read more: Cooper gives glimpse inside 'excited' Forest camp ahead of Bournemouth showdown
Read more: Riverside views and St Andrew's sadness mark out best and worst Forest away days
“He had a spring in his step in training! He was on a brilliant level in training,” said the Welshman. “He deserved it.
“Until I saw it back when we did the review, I didn’t realise how good a goal it was, in terms of his first touch. It was an excellent goal, really.
“I know the supporters haven’t seen as much of Alex as we all would have liked to have seen in games, and there’s been reasons for that, of course. But my belief in him and my intentions for him haven’t lessened in any way.
“He’s going to be a good Nottingham Forest player. He’s going to establish himself and be a part of us going forward, there’s no question about that.
“He had some bad luck with injuries. Got into the team, got injured, got into the team again, got injured and took a while to get back. When he’s got back, the team has been in good form and he’s had to bide his time. Sometimes I’ve made some tactical changes which haven’t gone his way in games.
“Saturday was one where we just thought the more pace we could have on the pitch, the more we could get in. That proved to be right. Not just his goal, I thought he looked a real livewire.
“He’s great to have around. He’s such a good lad as well.
“Our job is just to keep pushing him and keep him focused. He’s going to do alright, don’t worry about him.
“He’s definitely making progress. I won’t lie to you, young players progress most at that age by playing games in first-team football.
“That hasn’t happened as much as he would have liked, as we would have liked, as I would have liked. But he is still committed to his development. We’re still committed to his development.
“We’re working hard every day. We’ve just got to get him in the team; he’s got to get himself in the team and kick on.”
