Nottingham Forest supporters have seen a number of talented academy products in recent years. We examine Matty Cash, Jorge Grant, Ben Brereton and Joe Worrall.
During his first official press-conference upon arrival at Nottingham Forest, Head Coach Philippe Montanier confidently told the club’s official website, “I want to promote young players into the first team”.
Pleasingly for Forest fans – who have experienced several academy players make their first team debut in recent times – Montanier has a track record for developing young footballers, with perhaps his finest example being his tutelage of Antoine Griezmann when in charge at Real Sociedad.
Since 2014, Nottingham Forest have given debuts to a plethora of youngsters such as Ben Osborn, Tyler Walker, Gerry McDonagh, Alex Iacovitti, James Thorne and the recent £13 million man Oliver Burke.
The signs are positive and the first-team are beginning to reap the benefits of the endeavours at the Nigel Doughty Academy. Currently the academy hold high hopes for the likes of Anel Ahmedhodzic, Choz Charlesworth, Virgil Gomis, Lewis Walters and Jordan Gabriel – all of whom have performed well for the under-21s.
We examine four future stars not too far away from the Nottingham Forest line-up, including a potential goal machine.
Matty Cash
Possessing bags of energy and confidence, central midfielder Matty Cash is very highly-rated at Nottingham Forest. Cash, who made his Forest debut at the start of the season, made just four appearances before suffering a broken leg in a 2-2 draw with Aston Villa in September.
Cash spent a month of the 2015-16 season gaining first team football experience while on loan at League 2 side Dagenham & Redbridge, a spell that saw him score three times in twelve appearances. The 19-year-old is certainly one to watch upon his return from injury.
Jorge Grant
Having made 14 first-team appearances for Nottingham Forest, Jorge Grant is the most experienced of our highlighted starlets. Grant made his first start for Forest in September 2014 in a League Cup third round defeat to Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane, a debut that Grant marked with a goal.
He went on to make one league appearance that season and a further ten in 2015-16. In similar fashion to fellow midfielder Matty Cash, Grant may benefit from a loan stint away from the club if he is to fulfil the promise of becoming one of Forest’s fearless next generation.
Ben Brereton
17-Year-old Ben Brereton scored more than 30 goals last season and has continued his goal-scoring exploits so far this term – recently bagging four of Nottingham Forest’s goals in their 5-0 under-23 victory over Queens Park Rangers.
Brereton’s performances have been tracked and noticed by manager Philippe Montanier, who has tipped the centre-forward to make a successful transition into first team Championship football. Indeed, Montanier has praised Brereton, revealed his integration and participation in first-team training and commented on his potential to be a future stand-out for the club.
Joe Worrall
Since joining the club’s academy, aged 14, Joe Worrall has developed into a very promising centre-back. The 6ft 3in defender followed in Matty Cash’s footsteps, by spending a month of the 2015-16 campaign on loan at League 2 side Dagenham & Redbridge, which included many impressive performances.
The 19-year-old has shown himself to be a quick player, who is good in the air and a self-proclaimed vocal organiser of defences – even among seasoned professionals. Worrall, like Cash, is highly regarded by Nottingham Forest fans already and despite not yet making a senior appearance for the Championship side, will be hoping to forge a successful career with his boyhood club in the foreseeable future.
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