Nottingham Forest legend Kenny Burns has given his verdict on transfer target Scott McKenna and Sabri Lamouchi’s regime following the Reds’ poor start to the season.
Aberdeen defender McKenna looks to be on the verge of joining Forest and a deal, worth an initial £3million, could be completed before Friday’s Championship clash at Huddersfield Town.
And Burns believes the Scotland international is just what the Reds need.
“We need defenders who know how to defend and to be resolute and strong. McKenna will more than fit that bill, which is good,” said the European Cup winner, reports the Daily Record.
“The Forest defence really struggles against big physical strikers and we need somebody in there to give us a bit of steel at the back.
“I believe McKenna is big, strong and quick and sounds just what we need. He is also a Scotland regular and if we are only paying £3m up front then that looks to be a good bit of business.
“It was only a couple of years ago that Aston Villa bid £7m for McKenna so that shows the sort of quality he has.
“He has a lot of international experience with Scotland and he has played a lot of games for Aberdeen, both domestically and in Europe.
“Hopefully he can continue the form he has shown in Scotland and grow in England because he is only 23 and if he keeps progressing then there is no doubt his best years are ahead.”
Burns admits he is concerned by Forest’s start to the season, which has seen three defeats in three games.
“The players that Forest currently have aren’t good enough. The squad needs players and players of a good quality,” he said.
“Some of the players that have been brought in in recent seasons haven’t been good enough. When I mean good enough I mean to be challenging at the top end of the Championship to try to get into the Premier League.
“We played Cardiff and they had a big lad up front [Kieffer Moore] and we just struggled against him. We don’t really have a major centre-half.
“Joe Worrall is here but he hasn’t really come on the way I would have hoped. All the central defenders are all the same. They are tall but they aren’t really physical and go to compete and bully attackers but from what I’ve seen McKenna can do that.”
Burns admits he has “concerns” over Lamouchi, who is coming under mounting pressure following the Reds’ poor star.
“I have concerns over the manager,” he added. “I am not a fan of his. McKenna, as I said, will hopefully improve us defensively and hopefully the club can now and add some more quality at the other end because we really need goalscorers or it could be a long, hard season.”
