Karim Ansarifard came off the bench to make his Nottingham Forest debut in Saturday’s Championship win against Sheffield United.
Karim Ansarifard was forced to wait a while before making his move to Nottingham Forest.
The Iranian international was released by Olympiakos at the end of the summer transfer window. But, thanks to work permit issues, Ansarifard had to stay patient with his move to the City Ground under threat.
Last week, however, the 28-year-old finally arrived in the East Midlands, signing a contract until 2020. He came off the bench to make his debut in the latter stages of the vital 1-0 win against high-flying Sheffield United on Saturday.
And it seems that Ansarifard has already made a positive impression on his new supporters.
The versatile striker scored 18 goals for Olympiakos last season and, on paper, should only enhance Forest’s strike force. Lewis Grabban has nine goals in nine games but there is a lack of real depth at centre-forward, with Daryl Murphy seemingly not part of Aitor Karanka’s plans right now.
Ansarifard could provide the vision, creativity and class that the target man Murphy perhaps does not offer, and his arrival could be the perfect boost for a Forest side whose season appeared to be drifting recently, with the pressure on Aitor Karanka rising.
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