A summer overhaul saw a number of players depart as well as arrive at Nottingham Forest.
Incomings and outgoings made for a busy transfer window right up until the deadline. While some of those who moved on did so on permanent deals, several headed out on loan.
For many, it was hoped doing so would provide a chance to get regular game time and prove as beneficial as Brennan Johnson's spell at Lincoln City did. We take a look at how those Reds players currently plying their trade elsewhere are getting on.
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Ethan Horvath
Eager to play as he looks to secure a place in the USA squad for the World Cup, the goalkeeper has been first-choice for Luton Town so far. In 10 Championship appearances he has kept three clean-sheets and conceded 10 goals, with the Hatters sitting 11th in the table.
Luton also signed Matt Macey in the summer, but boss Nathan Jones said last month: “There’s no number one, two or three, it’s not that, there’s real competition. At the minute, we’ve gone with Ethan because we brought him in to start and we know that.
“You don’t sign a keeper from a Premier League club to sit on your bench, with the greatest of respect. I’m not saying it’s his to lose, but we brought him in to start and we go from there.”
After his most recent shut-out, against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday, Horvath told Luton Today: “For myself, for the team and especially the defence, it’s a big one. I don’t want to say a sigh of relief, but we’ve been unlucky with an own goal, guys putting in great shots, so it was a pretty quiet day for me.
"The second one at home, third of the season, I think it came at the right time. Now we’ll take the international break and when we come back, we go again.”
Mohamed Drager
The defender has made six league appearances for FC Luzern. Last month, he was one of three players in his team to be sent off in a 2-0 victory over Sion - and he wasn’t happy about it.
Dismissed for a second yellow card with 88 minutes gone, the Swiss side were already down to 10 men at that point, and lost another player shortly after. In a translated interview, Drager said of referee Alain Bieri: “He gave up the game. Nevertheless, very poor performance by the referee, he has to listen to that too. He turned the game into a circus."
His most recent outing came in the Swiss Cup. He played the full 90 minutes as Bellinzona were beaten.
Will Swan
A promising start to his spell at Mansfield Town has seen the young striker bag two goals in 10 appearances, scoring in successive games in August. Four of his seven league run-outs have come as part of the starting XI.
After finding the net in a 2-1 win over Stockport, he said: “I am getting more experienced and it will come with game time. I am getting more and more confident. I am sure more goals will come.”
Riley Harbottle
The 21-year-old defender was crowned Mansfield’s Player of the Month for August after an impressive start to his loan spell. He has started all nine of the Stags’ league games so far as they sit seventh in the League Two table, and has scored two goals.
Announcing he had won the supporters’ vote, the club said: “The tough-tackling, ball-carrying, centre-back has shown effectiveness in both boxes and has registered two goals in his short time so far at One Call Stadium.”
Tyrese Fornah
Scored his first professional goal last month, amid a fine run of performances for Reading. The midfielder has played a key part in a good start to the campaign for the Royals which sees them third in the Championship table.
He has made a total of 11 appearances for the club so far, with all but one of those in the starting line-up. Boss Paul Ince said after the youngster’s goal against Middlesbrough: “I'm always on to his case because I know he can be a top player. In the last two games, he has been absolutely outstanding. It's not just about his goal, he's growing and maturing, and that's what you want because he's only 22. He was brilliant - his passing and composure, and he finished it off with a goal. He was immense."
Rating his season so far as an eight out of 10, BerkshireLive say: "The Nottingham Forest loanee needed a few games to settle in but has adapted to Championship football superbly overall and is improving week on week. He hit the winner in the victory over Middlesbrough and has brought plenty of energy and strength to Reading's midfield."
Jonathan Panzo
It’s been something of a tough start to the season for Coventry City, who are propping up the Championship. The defender has been in and out of the first XI, with six appearances under his belt.
Fin Back
The young defender has slotted in seamlessly at Carlisle United. He has started all eight of their League Two matches.
A promising start to the season saw boss Paul Simpson asked if Back had performed better than he had expected. “Definitely,” he said. “I knew from the conversations I had with him that he seemed a really good professional, and from my conversations with Steve Cooper…he really likes him. He thinks he’s got a hell of a chance. It’s a massive one for us to get him in, really is.”
Richie Laryea
Back in familiar territory, with Toronto, the defender has started nine MLS matches at the club who he joined Forest from in January. He was named in the MLS Team of the Week after playing a key role in a 3-1 win over Portland Timbers last month, in what was only his second game since rejoining on loan.
Braian Ojeda
The midfielder had to wait for his chance after joining Real Salt Lake at the start of August. He made his debut earlier this month, coming off the bench in a 2-0 defeat to Los Angeles. Three of his four MLS appearances have been as a substitute.
Brandon Aguilera
The summer signing has been a regular for Guanacasteca. He has made eight appearances, all of which have been part of the starting XI.
Nicky Hogarth
The young goalkeeper has been picking up plenty of valuable experience with Falkirk. He has started every game since he arrived, making six appearances and keeping one clean-sheet.
Hwang Ui-jo
The striker immediately headed to Olympiacos after making the move to the City Ground from Bordeaux. He has featured six times for the Greek club so far and has registered one assist.
Josh Bowler
The winger made his Olympiacos debut in their Europa League defeat to Nantes last Thursday. He said afterwards: “It’s bittersweet. It was great to make my debut for Olympiacos, and make my debut in the competition, but to lose with the last kick of the game is never nice.
“I’ve been so impressed with the team, it’s got so much quality. It’s a team with a lot of quality, which is exciting, even though we’re all really down right now." Bowler has featured twice in league action.
Alex Mighten
Having joined late in the window, the 20-year-old has featured five times for Sheffield Wednesday so far. He has set his sights on helping the Owls secure promotion from League One. "That is why I am here and it is something I am really excited to be involved in," he has said. "I feel like I can play a big part in that and I am excited to hopefully get them back up."
It has been something of a mixed start to the season for the youngster, however. He has yet to really show what he can do.
After Mighten started a 3-0 victory at Morecambe boss Darren Moore said: "I think 60 odd minutes at Morecambe will have done him the world of good. We wanted him to blow off the cobwebs. He will get stronger."
YorkshireLive rated him a six out of 10 in Tuesday night's 3-2 Football League Trophy defeat at home to Burton Albion. They said: "Flitted in an out of the contest. His touch and decision-making repeatedly let him down in the final third. Super driving run from the Nottingham Forest loanee to open up the space for Paterson to restore parity."
Should Forest have hung on to any of the loan players? Have your say in the comments below
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