Alex Mighten has been backed to play a part for Nottingham Forest in the Premier League this coming season.
The 20-year-old attacker found regular game time hard to come by last term, amid injury troubles and competition for places in a winning team. But Reds head coach Steve Cooper has always been a staunch supporter of the Nigel Doughty Academy graduate, and believes he can contribute at the top level.
Mighten has impressed during Forest’s four summer friendlies so far. Against Coventry City, Burton Albion, Barnsley and Hertha Berlin he has looked lively and made an impact from off the bench.
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It has led to some debate about whether a loan move could be beneficial, with Blackpool understood to have enquired before looking at other options. Cooper says the youngster has caught the eye, however.
"He's really impressed; 100 per cent he can play a part,” the Welshman told NottinghamshireLive. “We've been sharing the minutes around, and although he hasn't started, read nothing into that - we are loading up match minutes with training minutes and getting everyone to a physical level.
"He's been a real threat when he's been on the pitch. I'm pleased with him.
"I'm a huge fan of Alex, and long-term, will not let him down. I didn't give him enough minutes last year, for obvious reasons, and sometimes including he had bad luck with injuries.
"But we have drawn a line under that. He's come back looking good. And he's one of us, isn't he?”
Mighten made 27 appearances in the Reds’ promotion-winning campaign, although only six of those came in the starting XI. He scored his only goal of the season in the 5-1 thumping of Swansea City in April.
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