Norwich City also wanted the Scotsman in the summer.
Today may see the first appearance of Ross McCormack as a Nottingham Forest player, following his loan move to the club from Aston Villa.
Forest are taking on Norwich City in the Championship and a team that wanted to sign McCormack from Fulham in the summer.
Aston Villa’s Ross McCormack reacts
Now the Canaries boss has been suggesting why he may have handled McCormack better than Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce.
He told the East Anglia Daily Press:
“The one advantage I had was I knew Ross. Being able to cope and deal with that type of player, if you know them already, certainly helps.
“It is a difficult one to comment on what has happened at Aston Villa. For whatever reason he has not managed to find his feet, hence why he is now at Nottingham Forest…
“You don’t really know what the situation is at any other club. Of course I see the bits and pieces in the media and things but ultimately no-one will know the real story at Villa apart from him and the others around that.”
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The Scottish striker has a potent record in the Championship and was linked with several teams in the summer, as it became clear he was departing Craven Cottage.
Norwich manager Alex Neil
In July it was reported by getwestlondon that Norwich were willing to pay £15 million for the player, but Villa ended up winning the race for his signature.
But for whatever reason it has not clicked for the player at Villa Park. It culminated in a very public fall-out with Aston Villa boss Bruce over his commitment to training with the Midlands club and now Nottingham Forest will be hoping to gain from the experience.
Aston Villa will hope he does not have too fruitful a spell.
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