Is Michael Dawson’s reported Nottingham Forest return destined to disappoint?

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Hull City defender Michael Dawson is expected to return to Nottingham Forest when he leaves the KCom Stadium.

Nottingham Forest manager Aitor Karanka missed out on Michael Dawson during the January transfer window, when Hull City refused to free up the experienced centre-back to make an emotional return to the club he left 14 years ago.

But Karanka has not exactly been subtle about the fact that he will attempt to sign the 34-year-old this summer when his contract at Hull expires and he becomes a free agent, as reported by the Hull Daily Mail.

And while Dawson would offer experience and passion to the Forest back line, would he actually be a regular starter at the City Ground these days?

Forest’s typically haphazard defence has improved since Karanka replaced Mark Warburton in January, barring a few avoidable errors like the two set-piece goals conceded against Cardiff on Saturday.

And much of that is down to the new defensive partnership of Danny Fox – a converted left-back who was recently rewarded with a new contract – and Tobias Figueiredo.

The latter, a Portuguese international who arrived on loan from Sporting Lisbon and has now triggered a permanent deal for £2 million according to Record, looks like one of the signings of the season and has immediately improved Forest’s defence.

So Dawson, a 34-year-old who has shown signs of decline at Championship strugglers Hull this season, might not even be superior to the options already at Karanka’s disposal these days.

That is not to say he would not be a valuable addition to the squad. But if Dawson wants to be the leader of Forest’s back line, he may have a challenge to even get into the starting XI first.