Out-of-contract Greek goalkeeper Markos Vellidis is currently on trial at The City Ground.
Sheffield Wednesday’s Fernando Forestieri denied by Nottingham Forest’s Jordan Smith
News emerged this week that Nottingham Forest have taken Greece goalkeeper Markos Vellidis on trial at The City Ground, according to the Nottingham Post, but it’s questionable whether the Reds actually need him.
While it’s true Gary Brazil’s side had a goalkeeping crisis after first choice keeper Stephen Henderson suffered an Achilles injury, academy graduate Jordan Smith has since stepped up and has looked solid between the sticks.
In fact, Smith’s form in the three games he’s featured in has been so impressive, that the 22-year-old is being spoken about as a genuine challenger for Henderson’s spot on a full time basis.
Even if Henderson isn’t fit again in time for the start of the new season, Dimitar Evtimov is also in the goalkeeping pool at the club, so it seems strange that the idea of another goalkeeper is being toyed with – unless it spells the end for Vladimir Stojkovic.
Nottingham Forest’s Vladimir Stojkovic kisses the ball after making a save
The eccentric Serbia stopper has courted a lot of stick from Forest fans, as while he initially looked very promising, Stojkovic has a habit of making a blinding save and following it up with an absolute howler.
If Vellidis is coming in on trial to nudge Stojkovic towards the exit door, then that makes sense – but if he’s there to displace Smith, then the club could be making a mistake.
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