Armand Traore started in a back three in Nottingham Forest’s triumph over Huddersfield Town Satuday – and Mark Warburton will take the credit for his display.
That Armand Traore’s rejuvenation has coincided with Nottingham Forest appointing Mark Warburton is surely no coincidence. In fact, the former Arsenal youngster went as far as to assure supporters that he is ‘loving’ life under the new boss, via his official Instagram account last month.
And no doubt his mood will have improved further still after he played a major role in Nottingham Forest’s 2-0 win against promotion chasing Huddersfield Town on Saturday. The win was Warburton’s first at the helm and lifts Forest five points clear of the relegation zone with just five games to play.
Though Eric Lichaj and the imperious Jamie Ward will no doubt dominate the Nottingham Forest headlines after netting a goal apiece in a huge and richly deserved win against the side third in the Championship, Traore’s performance offers further reason for optimism at the City Ground.
This was only Traore’s eighth start of an injury hit season. And, after limping off on the hour, Warburton will be praying that it will not keep the France-born full-back out for too long. Because this was arguably his finest performance in Nottingham Forest colours – and in an unfamiliar role too.
Traore may be renowned more for his attacking instincts than his defensive durability but, deployed on the left of a back three, the 27-year-old proved that there’s far more to his game than overlaps.
Managing two interceptions and a game-high seven clearances while maintaining an 85 per cent pass completion rate, Warburton already appears to have tapped into Traore’s potential and discovered a skill-set far more extensive than initially thought. Even in the air, the six foot defender was almost impenetrable.
After years bursting down the flanks, Warburton’s tactical vision seems to have given Traore a new lease of life. The question now, however, is whether Traore can stay injury free.
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