Head coach Steve Cooper has pledged to keep giving opportunities to Nottingham Forest’s next generation of talent - but only when they are earned.
Teenager Aaron Donnelly made his senior debut on Tuesday night, playing the full 90 minutes of the Reds’ 3-0 Carabao Cup win over Grimsby Town. Meanwhile, fellow youngsters Dale Taylor, Oli Hammond and Zach Abbott got a taste of the action from off the bench.
All are highly regarded at the City Ground, and pulling on the shirt will have been a proud moment for the quartet. For Abbott, the call-up came at just 16 years of age.
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“It is a special moment for him,” said Cooper. “We always talk about players who make their debuts, and there was a real variety of players making their debuts in this one.
“Some of them were making their first ever senior appearance. Zach being one. He’ll never forget it.
“I just said to him, ‘look after that shirt, keep it, give it to somebody important’, because in some ways it will be the most important one he’ll ever have. It’s great.
“I’m pleased with all of the young lads. Zach’s only 16. We’ve been keen to get him involved.
“But we will not give opportunities unless they are deserved. The young boys did deserve them, and they took them. I’m really pleased about that.
“You know my background. I will always believe in young players. But they’ve got to work hard to get the opportunities.
“They have, and they’ve taken them. Great credit to them and their families.”
In addition to the young players, summer signings Wayne Hennessey, Giulian Biancone, Cheikhou Kouyate, Remo Freuler and Emmanuel Dennis made their full debuts for Forest at Blundell Park. A Ryan Yates screamer and a Sam Surridge brace sealed a place in the third round for the visitors.
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