Ryan Yates is exactly the type of player Nottingham Forest need in the squad, according to one of his teammates.
The midfielder has been a regular under both Chris Hughton and predecessor Sabri Lamouchi this season, but hasn’t always won favour with some fans on social media.
Harry Arter knows the feeling, having taken flak himself throughout his career.
But the summer signing says there’s no chance of Yates not being appreciated by those who play alongside him.
“I think the thing with getting stick is, you’ve got to try to ignore it,” Arter told NottinghamshireLive.
“I’m sure Ryan is probably aware of it - every player is always aware of it.
“I had it last year at Fulham. The fans were negative about me playing, or saying that I shouldn’t be playing.
“You do have to be thick-skinned in football.
“Sometimes fans just pick on a certain player.
“One thing I would like to say, and especially on Ryan’s behalf, is that I’ve not played with him much but I can see he’s someone who loves the club.
“He would run through a brick wall for the club.
“Even if something doesn’t go right or goes wrong in games, it wouldn’t be through a lack of effort from him.
“When you’re part of a team, as a teammate, all you ask for is 100 percent from someone.
“As long as you feel that player is doing it and you can see they’re giving their all, that’s all you want from your teammates.
“It’s been great when I have played alongside Ryan.
“I can sense a real positivity from him. He’s very eager to win games, which, for someone so young, is great to have.
“He’s not selfish, he doesn’t think of himself - he’s a team player.
“We need players with Ryan’s mentality in the team.
“Hopefully he can continue playing the same way.
“The manager seems to like him and I’m sure he’ll change the fans’ minds.”
Arter spent last term on loan at Craven Cottage from Bournemouth, before making the move to the City Ground.
He also counts Charlton Athletic, Woking, Carlisle United and Cardiff City among his former teams.
Along the way he has experienced the positive and negative sides of football.
Speaking before the international break, he said of being on the receiving end of criticism from supporters: “It is tough.
“I’m not really on social media, but you find the criticism somehow, whether it be through a friend or something. My friends used to wind me up about it!
“You have to just try to ignore it and not take it personally.
“Fans are entitled to their opinions.
“I’m not a fan of social media because you can’t take the good and not take the bad. I think you have to stay level-headed and not pay attention to either side of it.
“I’ll be honest, though, it’s always nice to know fans are appreciative of what you do. It’s not nice when you hear the not-so-nice stuff.”
