The winger joined Burton Albion on loan before the international break.
Northern Ireland’s Jamie Ward in action with Ukraine’s Vyacheslav Shevchuk
Northern Ireland international winger Jamie Ward has been discussing his exit from Nottingham Forest this week – insisting he had to head to Burton Albion on loan to assure himself of regular first-team football.
Speaking to BBC Radio Derby the attacker made his reasons for the move clear:
“The most important thing at my age is to play.
“It obviously wasn’t going to happen for me there and I am not a player to sit around and just collect the money.
“I obviously wasn’t playing at Forest.”
Northern Ireland’s Jamie Ward in action
He also went on to comment about Burton boss Nigel Clough. He worked with the 50-year-old during his time at Derby County and is clearly looking forward to reuniting with his old gaffer:
“Nigel knows what I am like and I know what he is like. We have had a good relationship in the past and hopefully it carries on.”
Ward was a real coup from Forest when they snapped him up from rivals Derby County on a free transfer last summer.
But his debut season at the City Ground did not go quite as expected.
Burton manager Nigel Clough
He struggled to find the net regularly for the club, managing just three goals in 34 games last term. Despite scoring once for the club this season he was not in the plans of new manager Philippe Montanier and has therefore decided to try and help the cause at the Pirelli Stadium.
He will be hoping to prove Forest wrong for not giving him a chance to shine this season.
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