Here’s the latest Nottingham Forest news on Monday, February 13, 2023.
Cooper’s message to Forest players
Head coach Steve Cooper was left to rue Nottingham Forest not making a positive second half count as their unbeaten Premier League run came to an end.
The Reds boss refused to use losing centre-back duo Scott McKenna and Willy Boly after seven minutes as an excuse for a poor first half against Fulham. And he felt his side should have secured an equaliser when they improved after the break.
Willian had put the hosts in front with 17 minutes gone at Craven Cottage. Substitutions made a difference for Forest as they tried to get back in the game, but they failed to take advantage of putting their opponents under pressure, with a Manor Solomon goal making sure of the points for the hosts late on.
READ MORE: Chris Hughton given new job after Nottingham Forest exit
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O’Brien could still leave Forest
Nottingham Forest midfielder Lewis O'Brien could still be saved from his City Ground exodus with a potential move to the United States on the cards ahead of the start of the 2023 MLS campaign.
The 24-year-old joined Forest in the summer after his Huddersfield Town side were beaten in the Championship play-off final by Steve Cooper's men, only to see game time limited with the Englishman starting just six Premier League matches.
Moreover, with O'Brien one of 30 new arrivals since Forest's promotion, squad competition is strong with the midfielder a victim of that after being left out of the Reds' Premier League squad for the remainder of the 2022/23 campaign with his most recent appearance for the club coming in their 3-0 home defeat against Manchester United in the League Cup.
Jonjo Shelvey impact
Nottingham Forest's 2-0 defeat to Fulham on Saturday won't live long in the memory, but it could mark an important point in their season nonetheless.
That's because the game saw Jonjo Shelvey make his debut for the club in the Premier League after joining from Newcastle United. The midfielder signed a two-and-a-half contract on deadline day in the January transfer window .
The Forest fans can already see the benefit of having the former Liverpool man in the team after he was subbed on in place of Orel Mangala in the 56th minute. Fulham had things their own way up until that point, but he was able to wrestle back some control in the middle of the park.
Shelvey ended the game with two attempted assists, more than any other Forest player in the game. That is something pundit Michael Dawson believes the team has been lacking in recent weeks.
Chris Hughton's new job
Former Nottingham Forest manager Chris Hughton has been appointed as the new head coach of the Ghana national team, just over a year after his dismissal from the City Ground .
Hughton replaces former Black Stars boss Otto Addo, who resigned from the role following the nation’s exit from the World Cup at the group stage. Hughton has been working as an advisor for the national team for the last 12 months.
The 64-year-old spent just under a year with Forest, but was sacked following a poor start to the 2021/22 season which left the Reds at the bottom of the Championship table. He was replaced by Steve Cooper , who led the team to promotion via the play-offs at the end of the campaign.
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