The stat that should further prompt Forest to sign Lee Tomlin

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Nottingham Forest loan star Lee Tomlin has been in superb form.

Nottingham Forest’s on-loan attacking midfielder Lee Tomlin set a record on Sunday as he became the joint-most fouled player in a single match this season during his side’s 0-0 draw with Derby County.

The 29-year-old joined Forest during the January transfer window from Cardiff City on loan until the end of the season, reuniting with recently appointed boss Aitor Karanka.

Tomlin played under the former Real Madrid defender at Middlesbrough, and arguably enjoyed the best season of his career on Teesside as he helped Boro gain promotion to the Premier League.

The former Bristol City man evidently likes to get on the ball, and he has already shown flashes at Forest suggesting he can rediscover the form that saw him grab eight goals and ten assists in the 2014/15 campaign.

While he did not quite manage to contribute towards a goal in the East Midlands derby with rivals Derby County, he did set another impressive record as the Rams clearly looked to shackle him at every opportunity.

As shown by the table provided by Opta Stats, alongside Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish, Tomlin drew the most fouls of any Championship player in a single game as he was impeded as many as eight times.

Derby’s midfielders Bradley Johnson and Tom Huddlestone were likely told to press Tomlin at every opportunity, yet the attacker’s impressive ability on the ball prompted the duo to resort to consistently fouling him.

The referee warned the Rams’ holding midfielders, yet with nine minutes remaining Huddlestone was deemed to have commited one foul too many and received his marching orders for a second yellow card.

Tomlin has that ability to carry the ball, create space and link well with his teammates. In five Championship starts for the Reds, he has managed to score three goals and grab a further two assists.

Forest are becoming aware of his natural ability, and his latest performance against the Rams should further prompt boss Karanka to do all he can to make his loan spell permanent at the end of the campaign.