Are these the best players to enjoy temporary spells at Nottingham Forest?
Forget Nicolao Dumitru and Patijm Kasami, there was a time where Nottingham Forest used the loan market quite astutely.
And here is the proof.
Lee Camp
It did not take long for Lee Camp to earn himself cult hero status at the City Ground. A matter of weeks after joining the club, the cat-like ‘keeper pulled off a stunning save to deny Nacer Barazite’s with just seconds to go to preserve a point against arch-rivals Derby County.
Then Forest boss Colin Calderwood said the stop would go down in ‘folklore’, the BBC reported. He wasn’t wrong.
Though Camp’s reflexes have not been dimmed by his advancing years. The 32-year-old twice denied former Forest loanee Tom Ince from the spot in a November clash with the Rams.
Jack Hunt
A 17-game spell at the City Ground in 2014/15 represented a rare spell out of Yorkshire for the home bird right-back. However, after a broken ankle stalled his career in it’s tracks at Crystal Palace, a six month loan with Forest was exactly what the doctor ordered.
In an interview with The Star, Hunt insisted that he will forever owe a debt of gratitude to Forest for helping him fall back in love with the game.
Jack Hobbs
Marking his debut with a stunning block to deny James Vaughan in a nervy 1-0 triumph over Huddersfield Town, the Hull City-owned centre-back soon turned his loan deal permanent.
However, while he has often offered glimpses as to why he was so highly rated as a youngster at Liverpool, injuries have restricted Hobbs’ progress at Forest.
Daniel Ayala
Another one-time Liverpool prodigy, Ayala didn’t manage to earn a full-time contract at the City Ground but that was not for a lack of trying. A tall, rangy centre-back with an impressive leap, former Forest boss Sean O’Driscoll stated that he was keen to sign the Spaniard permanently after just a few appearances, the Nottingham Post reported.
Eventually, however, he ended up in the red of Middlesbrough instead.
Greg Cunningham
The Manchester City revolution couldn’t have occurred at a worse time for Irish-born left-back Cunningham. After making sporadic appearances in the City side of Robinho, Carlos Tevez and Craig Bellamy, Cunningham joined Forest on loan in 2011 and helped inspire a late survival push thanks to a run of just two defeats in their final ten games.
Radoslaw Majewski
If you’re looking to make an impact at a new club and earn yourself a full-time contract, try taking tips from Polish midfielder Majewski. A few weeks after arriving from his homeland, the iron-footed youngster thundered a stunning striker into the top corner of the Derby County net 53 seconds into his first East Midlands clash.
That was just one of many wonder goals he added to his collection at Forest.
Gary Gardner
Currently drifting between the bench and the starting XI at Aston Villa, Gardner is still yet to turn his potential into consistent performances at the age of 24. However, he will be forever remembered by Forest fans for that atomic blast into the Reading net in February 2015, one of only two goals he scored for the club.
Stephen McPhail
The former Republic of Ireland play-maker may be better remembered for his impressive performances against Cardiff or appearing against Barcelona and Lazio in Leeds’ infamous 2000/01 Champions League run, but Forest fans with long enough memories will only have positive thins to say about the diminutive schemer.
“If it was up to me I’d sign him but you know what we are with finances,” then Forest boss Paul Hart told the BBC in 2003 after signing McPhail on a three-month loan. “He’s a tremendous player, a great passer and I don’t need any convincing.
“I’ve known Stephen a long time and I do not need to be persuaded about his talents.”
Nelson Oliveira
Oliveira may not have developed into the world class centre-forward Portugal have missed since the heady days of Eusebio but a tally of nine goals in 28 games on loan at Forest from Benfica is respectable enough.
Finishing the 2015/16 campaign as the club’s top scorer, consistency was the only thing preventing the current Norwich City striker from taking his game to the next level.
Daxter Blackstock
Still just 30 years of age, Blackstock’s short-term loan from QPR in 2008/09 paved the way for eight seasons at the City Ground. And though injuries may have prevented him fulfilling his potential, the six-time Antigua and Barbuda international was a class act on his day.
Darren Huckerby
Though Forest fell at the semi-final hurdle to Sheffield United in the 2002/03 Division One play-offs, that they got there in the first place was thanks to Huckerby’s tally of five goals in nine games after arriving from Manchester City.
That is the closest Forest have been to returning to the top flight since their relegation in 1999.
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