New signing Adama Diakhaby has pledged to help “make the difference” for Nottingham Forest in their bid for Premier League football.
The winger will spend the rest of the season on loan at the City Ground, after joining from Huddersfield Town last month.
Reds head coach Sabri Lamouchi had made it a priority to add creativity and attacking threat to his squad during the transfer window, to help boost his team’s goal tally as they look to mount a promotion push.
And with Forest understood to have the option to make his move permanent in the summer, Diakhaby is eager to impress.
“Why not,” he said, when asked if he would be keen to extend his stay Trentside.
“In football you never know. But at the moment I am just focused on my game and playing for Nottingham Forest, playing for the club and for the fans.
“I just want to do my job and help the team win as many games as we can. I am just focused on that.
“I want to give my best for the team and the supporters.
“The supporters have been amazing.
“I want to score and help with some assists; do my job and try to help the club get to the Premier League.”
Diakhaby had fallen out of favour at the Terriers since the arrival of Danny Cowley as manager.
Prior to his Reds debut, when he came off the bench in the 1-0 win at Brentford, he had not played since November 30.
The 23-year-old insists he is not concerned about his match fitness, and believes he can provide a different option for fellow Frenchman Lamouchi.
“I feel good; I feel very good,” Diakhaby said.
“I know I can do more, but for the moment I feel very good and I am not worried about my fitness.
“I think I can bring a threat with the ball and without the ball. And I don’t have a bad left foot!
“I want to make the difference offensively. That’s why the coach brought me into the squad.
“I have to keep trying every day in training.
“I have to prepare for the games in my head and get the right mentality.
“I all the time, if I can.
“It has felt very good to be out there (for Forest). I had not played for a long time.
“I know I need to work more on my fitness, but it was very good to be out there.”
Diakhaby made the move to Huddersfield from Monaco in the summer of 2018, the start of their final season in the top-flight.
He had previously been at Rennes - Lamouchi’s former club, though the two did not cross paths - and says he is enjoying his time in English football.
“English football is very physical and more intense compared to French football,” he said.
“French football is more tactical.
“There is a big difference between the two.
“For me, the Championship is harder than the Premier League. It is very, very intense.
“There’s a lot of box-to-box football, defence then offence. But I like it!
“I know I can make the difference with my qualities.”
