The former PAOK ‘keeper is reported to be on trial at Nottingham Forest.
We’ll forgive you if the name Markos Vellidis doesn’t ring any bells. Spending the entirety of his professional career in his homeland of Greece, the 2015 Super League Goalkeeper of the Year and one-time international is not the first name that comes to mind when you want to upgrade your options between the sticks.
Yet, according to the Nottingham Post, Nottingham Forest have taken the 29-year-old on trial with Stephen Henderson out of the season with an Achilles problem and Vladimir Stojkovic suffering from injury issues of his own.
22-year-old Jordan Smith has started the last two games as a result but Gary Brazil is in need of a more experienced goalkeeper to help Forest navigate the remainder of the season with relegation still a very real concern.
And while Vellidis clearly has quality, he helped PAOK Salonika to second place in the Super League last season, the fact he is a free agent after being released at the end of January will ring a few alarm bells.
However, Forest fans won’t ask too many questions as long as he represents a safer pair of hands than the much-maligned Stojkovic.
The 33-year-old’s 71 caps for Serbia have counted for very little at the City Ground where he has often appeared more suited to a Sunday morning kick about than a crucial international clash.
In fact, the one-time Wigan Athletic goalkeeper has been labelled by some perhaps melodramatic supporters as the worst number one in the club’s history while others have merely taken the more reasonable route of calling for him to be removed from the side as soon as possible.
Now, with the potential addition of Vellidis, their prayers may just be answered.
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