The club’s youth system is remarkable, and these three have a great chance of becoming regulars very soon.
Jermaine Jenas in his Nottingham Forest days
Michael Dawson, Jermaine Jenas, Andy Reid, Oliver Burke – Nottingham Forest’s academy has produced a number of gems down the years that have gone on to play in a top division.
Even for the current team the youth system is so important, as Ben Osborn, Matty Cash, Joe Worrall and Ben Brereton have all graduated from the youth academy and established themselves as first team regulars.
With the club in uncertain times given the off the field turmoil, they need the youth system now more than ever, and these three players have a great chance of becoming the next set of graduates to cement their first team place.
Jordan Smith
Out of the three players listed, it’s goalkeeper Jordan Smith who has the most immediate chance of making a name for himself given the goalkeeping crisis at the club, which has seen Stephen Henderson ruled out with injury and Vladimir Stojkovic’s form scrutinised.
The 22-year-old made his debut in Forest’s recent 5-1 thrashing to Norwich City as he came off the bench at 3-0 down to replace the injured Henderson, and caretaker boss Gary Brazil has said he has no qualms about giving Smith games.
Nottingham Forest’s Alex Iacovitti
Alex Iacovitti
Hopes are high for the 19-year-old Scotland U21 international, with the defender – who can operate either as a centre half or a left back – making his Forest debut this season in a 4-3 win over Burton Albion.
With left back being a notoriously tricky position for Forest to fill recently, next season the Reds could well look within their ranks and give Iacovitti more of a first team opportunity.
Anel Ahmedhodzic
This 17-year-old midfielder has been subject to rave reviews from fans who attend youth games on social media, with some declaring that the defensive midfielder is an exceptional young player.
It seems first team management agree with that assessment, as the Sweden U18 international made his first team debut in Forest’s 3-1 defeat to Newcastle United, coming on in the 83rd minute.
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