Kieran Dowell is in red-hot form for Nottingham Forest after joining the Championship side on loan in the summer from Everton.
Mark Warburton has told BBC Sport that he believes Everton playmaker Kieran Dowell will return to Merseyside at the end of his season-long loan with Nottingham Forest.
Dowell, 20, scored a sensational hat-trick against Hull City on Saturday to help Forest earn an eye-catching 3-2 win away at Hull City, taking his goal tally for the season to five.
Forest boss Warburton stated that it would be great to keep Dowell, but is unwavering in his belief that the England Under-21 international will return to Goodison Park when the 2017-18 season finishes in May.
“It’s great to say ‘keep him’ but he’s an Everton player,” Warburton said.
“We are delighted to have him. I think he is really enjoying the move and I hope Everton really benefit from the experience he is getting.
“But don’t lose sight of the fact that he is an Everton player. Everything is geared towards his development.”
Dowell joined Forest in the summer after impressing for the Toffees during pre-season, scoring twice including an excellent effort against Dutch outfit FC Twente.
He has continued that form in the Championship with Warburton, scoring five goals and even turning provider on one other occasion as the two-time European champions look for a better league finish than last season’s 20th place.
Sitting in a comfortable 11th place, Forest are well away from an early relegation scrap and that is largely down to the performances of Dowell as he continues to shine in England’s second tier.
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