Midfielder Ben Watson is on the receiving end of “a lot of unnecessary flak”, according to one of his Nottingham Forest teammates.
Having impressed head coach Sabri Lamouchi during pre-season the 34-year-old has been a regular so far this term, starting each of the Reds’ six Championship games.
But his performances and his place in the team continue to divide supporters.
Lamouchi has a number of options in the centre of the pitch, and some fans - particularly on social media - have called for Watson to be dropped.
Defender Joe Worrall, though, says the former Watford man, who made the move to the City Ground 18 months ago, gets more criticism than he deserves.
“Ben Watson has been brilliant at the start of this season,” said Worrall.
“He takes a lot of - in my opinion - unnecessary flak from some of the supporters.
“He’s someone who is very reliable and brilliant to have around the dressing room.
“You look at the performances he put in during pre-season; they earned him the right to play in the first few games.
“He’s another leader, another captain figure in the team - him and (Michael) Dawson.
“Long may it continue.”
Lamouchi has described Watson as “the brain of the team”, adding: “Dawson and Joe Worrall, they are the heart; others are the legs.”
And Worrall believes much of the hard work his colleague puts in during the 90 minutes goes unnoticed.
Watson found himself in and out of the side last season, notching up 21 appearances in total but falling out of favour, at times, under former managers Aitor Karanka and Martin O’Neill.
He has played a key part in Forest’s seven-match unbeaten run this time around, though, as Lamouchi’s men have made a promising start to the campaign.
“He’s another player who goes under the radar with how much he affects the side,” Worrall said.
“He’s like a lynchpin in midfield.
“He somebody who gets on the ball, can play, but is also very dynamic in his tackling and is robust in midfield.
“He’s someone who I enjoy playing with.”
