Mark Warburton failed to strike a reunion with David Button or Wes Foderingham – but Rangers’ Jak Alnwick could also prove an inspired addition.
Nottingham Forest boss Mark Warburton must be wincing every time goalkeeper Jordan Smith careers out into a busy penalty area.
After all, one of Warburton’s primary summer priorities was to beef up his goalkeeping options – and his failure to do so means young Smith and the unconvincing Stephen Henderson are the only senior shot-stoppers on Forest’s books.
The manager thought he had solved the problem when landing Adam Federici on a season-long loan from Bournemouth. That is, until an injury brought his temporary stay at the City Ground to a premature end – before the Australian international had even made his debut.
As such, goalkeepers are once again likely to be on the agenda for Forest in the winter transfer window. And after Warburton failed to bring about a reunion with David Button and Wes Foderingham, who worked with the 55-year-old at Brentford and Rangers respectively, perhaps it’s time he turned his attention to another of his former charges.
Reunion with Warburton?
After all, you could forgive Jak Alnwick for being tempted by the prospect of giving up on his prospects at Rangers. The former Newcastle United youngster moved to Ibrox nine months ago from League One Port Vale but has featured only three times under Warburton’s successor, Pedro Caixinha.
Alnwick may not have any Championship experience but he is a goalkeeper with a great deal of potential. When he has been given a rare chance in the Scottish Cup this season, the former England Under-18 international has seized it with both hands, starring in a recent 3-1 quarter-final win over Partick Thistle.
And the 24-year-old could be a fine alternative for Smith. While he would not be guaranteed first-team football at Forest either, at least he could take solace in knowing that Warburton rates him highly.
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