Nottingham Forest are closing in on Portsmouth’s 17-year record of most debutants in a Premier League season.
Sixteen of Steve Cooper’s summer signings have made their league debuts in the opening eight matches of 2022-23. It follows an overhaul in the transfer window which saw 22 players arrive - albeit three immediately headed back out on loan.
With deadline day arrival Loic Bade yet to feature – and the January transfer window still to come – Forest are on course to overtake Portsmouth’s record of 21 debuts in a single campaign, set in 2005-06. Cooper has spoken about the challenges of integrating so many new faces, and Monday's 4-0 defeat at Leicester City saw his side slip to bottom of the table.
