Boss Steve Cooper admits there are pros and cons to Nottingham Forest’s loanees performing so well.
Djed Spence, Philip Zinckernagel, James Garner, Keinan Davis and Max Lowe have all become key players for the Reds this season and been in terrific form.
Watford’s Zinckernagel and Middlesbrough defender Spence both got on the scoresheet on Sunday as Leicester City were thumped 4-1, while Davis, who joined from Aston Villa last month, and Manchester United midfielder Garner chipped in with assists.
Sheffield United’s Lowe, meanwhile, has just returned from injury but has picked up pretty much where he left off before being sidelined.
There has been speculation about what might happen to all five in the future, on the back of impressing at the City Ground - and they could leave Forest having gaps to fill.
“It is a double-edged sword, but I can’t think like that too much, and the staff who work with these players can’t,” Cooper told NottinghamshireLive.
“When a loan player comes in, you have to treat them like they are your own.
“You bring a loan in for a reason, to get the best out of the player so they give their best to the club, and then everyone benefits.
“There is always that risk when a loan player does so well, goes back and you’re thinking, ‘we’ve done quite a lot of work with that player and we’re in a good place’ then he maybe has to go play somewhere else.
“But that’s just the pros and cons of the loan market.
“Hopefully longer term we won’t rely as much on the loan market, we want to try to build our own team of permanent players who are growing for Nottingham Forest.
“That’s what we want to be.
“We will be still using the loan market in the next windows, for sure.
“But you have to treat loan players like they are your own and you get the best out of them.
“In the end, when they go back, you want them to look back fondly. You want them to look back fondly on their time at the club, you want them to know that the club supported them.
"But at the same time, you want to shake hands and thank them for what they’ve done as well. That’s always the best outcome.”
