Nottingham Forest’s preparations for the new season will take a significant step forward this week as they face their first friendly of the summer.
The Reds return to action with a trip to Meadow Lane to face Notts County on Saturday, with all eyes firmly on the start of the 2023/24 Premier League campaign. There is little more than a month to go before Steve Cooper’s side head to Arsenal for their opening fixture.
Meanwhile, it continues to be quiet on the transfer front, although activity is expected to begin ramping up. Ahead of the meeting with the Magpies, here’s our round-up of the latest goings-on Trentside.
Awoniyi’s aim
After reaching double-figures in Premier League goals last term, hopes are high that Taiwo Awoniyi - hopefully with better luck on the injury front - can notch an even better tally this time around. The front man came on leaps and bounds over the course of his first year at the City Ground and signed off for the summer with a run of six goals in four games.
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Awoniyi knows strikers are judged on goals. But equally important for the 25-year-old is knowing he has given his all on the pitch, whether or not that also includes finding the back of the net. That mentality has helped him during some tough times in previous years.
“For me, as a player, the best you can do for yourself is to keep putting in every effort because the effort will not be in vain,” he told Soccernet. “And in the end, if it doesn’t go your way, you can say, ‘Yes, I did my best’, which is what I have always kept in my heart.
“Sometimes, things have not been going my way for the past few years, but even in those times, everyone in the club knows that he has always been doing his best. Many things happen in football, but it is not open to the outside world because this game has many things behind the scenes. But the truth about football and the truth about what I say to myself is: ‘Just give it your best, let everyone decide what will happen, whether you are good, whether you are not, just give it your best, and that is the best thing you can do for yourself.’
“Don’t put yourself in a position you will regret, and that is it for me, just giving everything. And for Nottingham Forest, it is the same thing I would do in the upcoming Premier League season.”
Intriguing response
The Reds need to trim their squad during the transfer window, leaving question marks over the future of a number of players. Emmanuel Dennis is among them.
The attacker has been linked with Leeds United and is also said to have interest from Saudi Arabia and Russia. His future was in the spotlight in January, and although he didn’t move on at that point he could be among those to make way this summer as Forest target fresh reinforcements.
The 25-year-old was largely restricted to a substitutes’ role last season, with 13 of his 19 league appearances coming off the bench. But despite the lack of game time and amid all the transfer talk, it seems he is still enjoying his time on the banks of the Trent.
Answering questions from fans on Instagram, Dennis said he is “very, very happy” when asked if he is happy at Forest. He also said he is “very very nice excited” for the new season and listed Shakira’s Waka Waka as his favourite song after it was at the heart of the team’s survival celebrations.
He even managed a little teasing at the expense of one of his teammates. Asked if Morgan Gibbs-White is the best player he’s played with, Dennis quipped: “In his dreams.” He added three laughing face emojis for good measure.
Scholarships signed
Following on from the recent announcement of a number of second and third-year scholars penning their first professional contracts, four players have signed their first scholarships with the Reds. Midfielder Kristian Clarke, attacking midfielder Theo Flanagan, centre-back David Modupe and striker Amarn Robinson will be part of the Under-18s squad for the upcoming season after agreeing two-year scholarships.
“It’s great to offer the four boys their first scholarship at the club and reward them for all their hard work,” said under-18s head coach Tom Mallinson. “They’ve really impressed us as academy staff, and their potential is exciting for us to work with and continue their development.
“The focus in the Under-18 group will be maximising individuals’ potential day in, day out. We are increasing our alignment across the club and keen to continue to develop a clear pathway for talented players to fulfil their potential.”
New coach
Assisting the quartet referenced above will be Sam Darlow, who has joined the Reds as a professional development phase coach. He will work with the under-18s and under-23s, which means helping to develop a really exciting crop of youngsters.
Prior to moving to the Nigel Doughty Academy, Darlow spent almost five years at Ipswich Town, initially as a youth development lead phase coach and then as a professional development phase coach. He went from being in charge of the Tractor Boys’ under-16s to becoming lead coach of the under-18s, overseeing a run to the quarter-finals of the 2022/23 FA Youth Cup. He has also previously worked at Peterborough United.
Announcing his departure from Ipswich, Darlow said last month: “My time at Ipswich Town has come to an end. Throughout the journey I have met some great people, both staff and players, friends for life. It has been a pleasure and my honour to say I have worked at, firstly, such a historic football club with an incredible fanbase.
“Secondly, I’ve been fortunate enough to work with some very highly thought of names in the game, having the privilege of spending time talking to and learning from them. Lastly, I’d like to take this opportunity to wish all the staff and players past and present all the best for the future and hope our paths may cross again. We didn’t do too bad, FA Youth Cup quarter final, NI SuperCup, PDL Cup U18s and U16s, plus a few in the first team and beyond. Here’s to the next chapter.”
