Summer signing Braian Ojeda has caught the eye of Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper in training.
And the Welshman says he is just waiting for the right moment to hand the midfielder his Reds debut.
Ojeda has been an unused substitute for the last three games as he works his way up to getting on the pitch for the first time.
It looked as though he might have got a run-out against Sheffield United on Tuesday night, when Ryan Yates required treatment on the pitch. There was some in-depth discussion on the touchline, before it was clear Yates was fine to carry on.
“There would have been no hesitation putting him,” Cooper said of Ojeda. “We didn’t know if Yatesy had picked something up, but if he had, it would have been a straight swap.
“It would have been good to put him in the game. We’re waiting for the right moment to do that.
“The team comes first, and the game comes first. Whatever decision is right for trying to get the right result comes first. Some of those decisions, at the moment, have meant Braian not getting on the pitch.
“But his time will come, I’m sure.”
After taking time to link up with his teammates after he joined, due to a period of self-isolation, the Paraguayan is said to now be integrating into the group well.
“He’s a good, technical player, a good passer of the ball and energetic. He’s a little bit of an all rounder as a midfield player,” the Forest head coach said of Ojeda.
“We see him getting up to people and stopping them from playing, but we also see him touching the ball a lot and making passes.
“He’s a player you notice a lot in training because he’s that type of midfielder who always wants to be involved in stuff.
“He’s a really good guy as well. He’s settled in, and very much wants to learn. It’s a little bit difficult for him with the language, but he’s improving every day. He’s doing lots of English lessons.
“We’re happy with him. It’s a long-term thing with him, but I’m sure it will be sooner rather than later when we see him.”
The Reds are aiming to get back to winning ways against Preston North End on Saturday, after three games without a victory.
Long-term absentees Loic Mbe Soh, Jordi Osei-Tutu and Rodrigo Ely are still sidelined, and a few others are nursing knocks.
“There’s a few with bumps and bruises from this little spell of games,” Cooper said. A lot of the lads have played some minutes, so we’ve got to be mindful with one or two.
“There’s a few who we might need to look at tomorrow, to see whether they’re fit or not.
“But as it stands, everybody is okay. But certainly there’s one or two who we need to make sure they are okay tomorrow ready for the Saturday game.”
