Nottingham Forest caused a stir when they signed Sammy Ameobi from relegated Championship outfit Bolton Wanderers.
The doubters were out in force when Nottingham Forest signed Sammy Ameobi from Bolton Wanderers on a free transfer in June.
Not only were many Forest fans seriously underwhelmed by their first summer signing, an unattached 27-year-old who was relegated from the Championship last season, there was no shortage of Bolton fans who questioned whether Ameobi lacked the application to make a real impact at the City Ground.
So it’s fair to say the former Newcastle United winger really had a point to prove. But, one game into his Nottingham Forest career, Ameobi could hardly have made a better first impression as he looks to win over some rather suspicious supporters.
The rangy winger was the best player on the pitch as Forest beat Alfreton Town 2-1 in their first game of pre-season, coming off the bench to set up Karim Ansarifard’s winner after ratting the post with a trademark long-range piledriver.
Yes, it might have been ‘only Alfreton’ – but Ameobi really needed this with all eyes on his first appearance in Forest colours.
Nottingham Forest’s new manager Sabri Lamouchi was watching on from the stands at the Impact Arena, watching on keenly behind his designer sunglasses. And he will surely have been impressed by a player who has been put in a rather awkward position, having been signed during the final days of Martin O’Neill’s reign.
When fit and firing, Ameobi is a player capable of producing something out of nothing. And given that Forest drew 15 games in 2018/19, he could be exactly what they need to turn one point into three.
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