The 22-year-old has signed a new three-year deal with the club, pledging his future until 2020.
Sheffield Wednesday’s Fernando Forestieri in action with Nottingham Forest’s Jordan Smith
Nottingham Forest boss Mark Warburton has claimed that goalkeeper Jordan Smith is fully deserving of his new three-year deal, which ties Smith down to the Reds until 2020, as reports the club’s official website.
The 22-year-old, who has been with Forest since he was just seven, has made eight first team appearances this season since stepping in for the injured Stephen Henderson, and has overtaken Serbia international Vladimir Stojkovic as current first choice stopper.
Smith has made a number of vital saves in recent matches, namely in the 2-2 draw with Derby County, to further establish himself as Forest’s number one, and Warburton seems happy to keep putting faith in him.
Speaking to the club’s official website, Warburton – who was recently hired by the Reds – praised Smith’s performances and attitude, while also stating that he fully deserves not only to keep his place in the first team, but the new deal in question.
Nottingham Forest’s Eric Lichaj (L) with Jordan Smith and Sheffield Wednesday’s Jordan Rhodes
“He has done well,” Warburton said to the club’s official website. “He is a young keeper who is being pushed and challenged and he has responded accordingly. I think you have to reward performance and now the fight starts for the next contract.
“He is confident, young and is learning his lessons. He takes on advice and works on his game day in, day out. His approach and commitment is good and his work ethic is outstanding and he is displaying all the right attributes to be a good keeper.
“He has been thrown in and he has responded. It is a challenge at a tough level and he has done well. He communicates well with the defenders and they take confidence from him so all credit to him. He is in the side because he deserves to be there and his job now is to keep that shirt and keep improving.”
Derby manager Gary Rowett and Nottingham Forest manager Mark Warburton before the game
Since Warburton has arrived at The City Ground, Forest are yet to lose having drawn both of their matches under the former Brentford and Rangers boss, but the Reds hover dangerously above the relegation zone by just two points.
Forest take on fellow relegation battlers Wolverhampton Wanderers in their next fixture, which takes place on Tuesday evening, before hosting Huddersfield Town at the weekend.
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