Sabri Lamouchi has been "really surprised" by the quality of the next generation of players at Nottingham Forest.
The new Reds head coach included the likes of Brennan Johnson, Arvin Appiah, Alex Mighten, Jayden Richardson, Tyler Walker and Toby Edser in the travelling party for the training camp in Greece.
Many of them had significant minutes on the pitch, in games against Atromitos and Olympiacos in Athens.
And Lamouchi says that, from the first day he took over, he has been impressed by the quality shown by the latest round of products from the Nigel Doughty Academy.
“From the start, since I came here, right up until now, I have been really surprised by the young players,” said Lamouchi, who will give young players an opportunity this season, if he feels they have earned it.
“They have quality, they have a good attitude and they must stay in this way.
“If they can do that, they will have time to play, because I like it when players show me what they want and exactly what I want to see, out on the pitch.”
Defender Tendayi Darikwa, who joined up with the Reds squad in Greece following international duty with Zimbabwe, has also been encouraged by the impact the young players have made on the training ground and in games.
“The young lads are doing really well. I have only been back with Forest for a week or so, but they have been training with us and they have a good opportunity to show the new manager what they can do,” he said.
“Hopefully they can continue to both train and play in the way that they have been doing, because they have been doing well.”
Appiah made his first team debut last season and is held in high regard. But Forest have also been impressed by the progress made by midfielder Johnson, who is the son of former Reds striker David and he is another who is expected to get a first team chance this season.
Richardson and Mighten also fall into that category, while Edser impressed in the game against Atromitos and Walker is being given an opportunity to show that he can provide solid competition for Lewis Grabban, after scoring more than 20 goals while on loan at Mansfield Town last season.
